Wellness Center's Blog

Protect Your Skin During Outdoor Workouts and Sports

By: Piedmont Wellness Staff

July 18, 2023, 10:00 am - Categories: Health & Fitness, Healthy Tips

As you spend more time outdoors for workouts and sports it’s important to protect your skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control,” Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. While it has some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can cause health risks.”

The CDC also notes that those who are at increased risk for skin cancer are individuals who:

• Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned.
• Have light-color skin, hair, and eyes.
• Take some types of oral and topical medicines, such as antibiotics, birth control pills, and benzoyl peroxide products, as well as some cosmetics, which may increase skin and eye sensitivity to UV in all skin types.
• Have a family member with skin cancer.
• Are over age 50.

Whether you’re working out, playing a sport, walking your dog or simply having fun, here are tips to keep your skin protected.

1. Use sunscreen for all outdoor activities

Purchase sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.  Apply it 30 minutes before going outdoors and make sure you remember to reapply your sunscreen after two hours.

2. Seek shade during midday hours if you can

The sun’s strongest UV rays are typically from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Try to minimize any activities in direct sunlight during those times. Walking, swimming, biking, hiking and other outdoor exercises can be completed in the morning or early evening.

3. Wear protective clothing

Protect your eyes with UV-protection sunglasses. Use wide-brim hats to shade your face, head, ears, and neck. For working out or playing sports, shop for clothing with UV protection and darker or bright colors. Densely woven cloths, like denim, canvas, wool or synthetic fibers, are more protective than a sheer, thin or loosely woven cloth.

REFERENCE:
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/uv-radiation-safety/index.html
https://abcfitness.com/healthy-living/3-ways-to-protect-your-skin-from-the-sun-when-working-out-outside/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/7-sunscreen-tips-especially-for-outdoor-sports-lovers/
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sun-protective-clothing/