Sun Sense for Athletes
Whether you’re an elite or recreational, amateur or professional athlete you
know the importance of taking care of your body. You challenge your car-
diovascular system, and reduce your risk of heart disease while increasing
lung efficiency. You lift weights to increase your muscle mass and reduce
injuries. You try to eat well. Your bone density is excellent. Perhaps you do
yoga to maintain flexibility and soothe your mind. Your risk of metabolic
disease is lower because of your lifestyle. So why do so many ignore the
body's largest organ?
Skin cancer is real. It’s on the rise, and it can be disfiguring or deadly. It’s
also something you can try to prevent with your behavior. With 90% of skin
cancers estimated to be associated with solar or artificial UV light, you have
the power to influence your risk.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TYPES OF SKIN CANCER?
BCC: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and, thankfully, most treat-
able form; it often looks like a sore or pearly bump that won’t go away.
SCC: Squamous cell carcinoma is less dangerous than melanoma but can
still metastasize; it looks like a thick, scaly bump or open sore; it is more
aggressive on the lips and ears.
Melanoma: The most dangerous sun-induced skin cancer as well as the one
more likely to occur in younger adults; genetics can play a factor in your risk
of melanoma as well; the ABCDE’s (asymmetry, borders, color, diameter and
evolution) are what to watch for.
As athletes, exposure to the sun happens in one of two main ways: training
outdoors or by tanning in an indoor booth.
Outdoor training sun sense:
Expecting anyone to stay inside during all daylight hours is ridiculous.
However, there are things you can do to reduce your exposure:
- Avoid the most harmful sun rays between 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Run, train or
ride before or after these times. - Dress in gear that blocks UV. Many sports clothing items will have a UV
rating. Look for it! - Wear a hat (visors shadow your face but leave your scalp, especially part
lines, exposed) and slide on sunglasses with 100 per cent UV protection. It's
like a license to buy those Oakleys! - Wear a broad-spectrum, photostable, sweatproof and
waterproof sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, and reapply it every 2 hours.
Indoor tanning nonsense:The WHO (World Health Organization) has placed UV tanning beds in the
highest cancer risk category Group One or carcinogenic to humans, in the
company of arsenic and tobacco. Tanning bed UV rays emit 10-15 times
more radiation than mid-day sun. Alberta passed legislation to ban the sale
or access of indoor tanning to minors. If you have a need for colour choose
a sunless tanning lotion or go for a spray tan. There are many options now
like Selfie or St. Tropez that produce a natural color: no more orange!
Pre-tanning for a vacation is not necessary, as a tan only provides an SPF of
two to four and exposes you to radiation just to prepare for more radiation.
That makes as much sense as smoking a cigarette outside because you’re
going into a casino full of smokers!BUT WHAT ABOUT VITAMIN D?Yes, UVB produces vitamin D in the skin, whether from the sun or an
artificial source. However, with exposure comes DNA damage. Because of
this, Health Canada recommends obtaining your Vitamin D through diet or
supplements. Aim for 600 IU daily.BUT I HEARD THAT SUNSCREEN CAUSES
SKIN CANCER?Almost all of our skin cancer patients have never worn
sunscreen. Ever. Current research also shows that sunscreen doesn’t pen-
etrate the stratum corneum, or the flaky outer layer of skin. If you’re not
convinced, choose a physical sunscreen instead of a chemical one, with the
active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.The most difficult part of sun sense is avoiding something that feels
good. Tanning can cause endorphin release in the brain. Howev-
er, so do a lot of things that are detrimental to your health. Life is all
about balance. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to avoid the
sun completely. However, with a few smart choices you can reduce
your risk dramatically. Get to know your skin and get suspicious or
changing spots checked by your family doctor. Be healthy, inside and out!BY JAIME GONEK, BSc(MLS), MLT
of Symmetry DermatologyReviewed by Dr. Chris Keeling, Board-Certified
Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon