Athletes and the Sun
Alex Mroszczyk-McDonald, MD
One of the many perks to being an endurance athlete is the ability to spend plenty of time enjoying the great outdoors. However, with the joy comes the risks of excessive sun exposure and inherent dangers, mainly skin cancer.
More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year and one American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 65 minutes). claiming nearly 8,000 lives annually. “Thousands of athletes, both professional and amateur, are at high risk for developing skin cancer,” warned dermatologist Brian B. Adams, MD, MPH, FAAD, and chairperson of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Sports Committee. “Outdoor athletes face double jeopardy because perspiring exacerbates their risk.”
Perspiration on the skin lowers the minimal erythema dose (the lowest ultraviolet (UV) light exposure needed to turn the skin barely pink). “You’ve already set yourself up for trouble if you are not using sunscreen when outdoors participating in sports,” commented Dr. Adams. “When you perspire, you are even more susceptible to a burn, and with continued exposure, to wrinkles, age spots and maybe even skin cancer.”
The AAD recommends avoiding the sun and/or seeking shade from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is exactly the time when most teams and individuals are outside training. These athletes are getting an enormous amount of exposure to UV light and often they have no choice but to be outside during these hours. As a result it is important for athletes to follow sun-safety precautions, including wearing sunscreen and protective clothes.
Many athletes believe that sunscreen blocks their sweat pores and decreases their sweating and thermoregulation. However, preliminary data demonstrates just the opposite. In fact not only does sun screen not hamper the body’s ability to sweat it actual may improve cooling and thermoregulation.
Many athletes simply want to avoid obtaining a sunburn, which is more widely understood to be skin damage. However, remember that there is no safe way to tan. A tan is the skin’s response to injury caused by UV exposure. Tanning occurs when ultraviolet rays penetrate the epidermis (the skin’s outer layer) causing the production of melanin (which cause a change in skin color) as a response to the injury. Chronic exposure to ultraviolet light, both natural and artificial, results in a change in the skin’s texture which eventually causes wrinkling and age spots. Every time you tan, you damage your skin and this damage accumulates over time. This accumulated damage, in addition to accelerating the aging process, increases your risk for all types of skin cancer.
Sunscreens should be applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes BEFORE going outdoors. When using sunscreen, be sure to apply it to all exposed areas and pay particular attention to the face, ears, hands and arms. Coat the skin liberally and rub it in thoroughly — most people apply only 25-50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. Lastly, keep in mind that even on a cloudy day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds so it is important to follow sun precautions every time you go out to train.
The AAD’s current campaign to raise awareness surround the issue of sun exposure is titled “Be Sun Smart.” Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma. As a result, you can have fun in the sun and decrease your risk of skin cancer. Here is how the AAD recommends athletes as well as anyone to “Be Sun Smart:”
- Generously apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to all exposed skin. Re-apply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating. Look for the AAD SEAL OF RECOGNITIONTM on products that meet these criteria.
- Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.
- Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing and applying sunscreen.
- Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.
- Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.
- Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
- Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
Here are some links to the AAD’s website regarding sun screen, skin cancer as well as a great survey to help you asses your knowledge and risk regarding sun exposure.
www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_sunscreen.htm
www.aad.org/RaysYourGrade/
Lastly, and most interestingly, some research has found that regular exercise may reduce the risk of skin cancer. In one study female mice exposed to a form of ultraviolet light took longer to develop skin tumors if they had access to a running wheel. Another study exercise appeared to speed up the rate at which cancer cells die. However, experts warn that this is not an excuse to go out in the sun unprotected. So enjoy the time you spend outdoors training, but be “sun smart.”
http://www.alexmmtri.com Alex M. McDonald, MD, is a professional triathlete and coach
