How to stay safe under the sun during sport season?

By Ash 18th May 2019 Category: Advice
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July is a huge month for sporting events! 1st July saw the worlds oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament kick off at Wimbledon with two weeks of grass court action from 1st-14th July.  Women’s football which is bigger than ever this year shares the sporting spotlight in the first week of July as we see the final played on Sunday 7th July in France. The cricket world cup also continues throughout July with the final on Sunday 14th July at Lord’s. not forgetting the 106th Tour de France, 21 races over 3460km throughout Belgium and France completing on 28th July.

According to YouGov, almost a quarter of Brits don’t use a sunscreen in summer,  and skin cancer rates have more than doubled since the early 1990’s.  In fact cancer rates are higher and have risen faster among men than women and when it comes to out-of-date sunscreen, men are again at greater risk of harm than women. While 47% of women are wittingly or unwittingly using ineffective sun cream, this figure rises to 58% among men.

So if you are planning on being a spectator at some of these events, or simply play sports outside, make sure you are you protecting your skin properly. Here are a few top tips to keep you sun safe this spring and summer.

  • Pick a good sun screen that has a high SPF which will protect you from the UVB rays that cause sunburn. Also make sure is has UVA (ultraviolet A rays) protection. These rays penetrate the skin more deeply causing premature ageing.

 

  • Check out the product labelling – you will find UVA represented by either a star rating, or the letters ‘UVA’ in a circle. These are often referred to as ‘broad spectrum’. And use a factor above SPF 15, or SPF 30 if you have lighter skin.

 

  • If you’re out in the sun for long periods, it is recommended you apply 1oz of SPF over your skin at least 20 minutes prior to sun exposure and remember to top up every 2-3 hours.  Don’t miss those hard to reach areas! Back of the neck, ears, shoulders etc!

 

  • Where possible, grab some shade and avoid peak times of day (11am-3pm).

 

  • Cover up – wear sunglasses to not only protect your eyes, but the skin around your eyes, which is much more sensitive to the sun as it is thinner. Wear loose clothing with long sleeves to block harmful rays. Going to the cricket? Invest in a hat… you might be thankful of it after a full day out in the sun.

So whatever you are up to, enjoy the sun and enjoy it safely! And may the best team win.

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