Protect Your Skin
Written by Christine Luff Friday, 17 April 2009 00:00
It finally feels like Spring has arrived here in New Jersey. Today's a sunny, warm day and it's the first day this year that I actually thought about putting on sunscreen for my outdoor run. To me, that's the one bummer about running in warmer weather -- less clothing and stronger sun means that I have to slather on the sunscreen. Be safe and follow these tips to protect your skin from the sun when running:
- Choose the right sunscreen. Use a waterproof sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15 and offers broad spectrum protection, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Stick formulations are good for runners' faces because the sunscreen won't run into your eyes.
- Run early or late. Try to avoid running between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's intensity is at its greatest. If you must train during those hours, try to stick to shady roads or trails.
- Apply sunscreen ahead of time. Slather on your sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you head out for your run. Your skin needs time to absorb the lotion.
- Don't skip sunscreen for short runs. You can get a sunburn in as little as 15 minutes, so a short run means you still need sunscreen.
- Reapply after two hours. Sunscreen starts to lose effectiveness at about the two-hour mark, or even sooner if you're sweating heavily, so you'll need to reapply if you're doing a long run or race. Carry a small tube of sunscreen or a one-use sunscreen wipe in your pocket, so that you can reapply it to your face, neck and arms as you run.
- Put on sunscreen before getting dressed. Some running clothes are made of mesh or very thin fabric, so they might not provide protection from the sun's rays. Also, your clothes move when you run (or you may choose to take off some clothes, like your shirt). So it's best to make sure you're fully covered with sunscreen.
