Good Morning! It is February and the forecast for Lincoln today is a high of 44 degrees. Many of you know that one of my passions outside of the Dermatology and Aesthetics world is running. Today’s warmer weather and sunshine are certainly catalysts for an afternoon run. As I open my email and start planning how I will fit my run in between working and my 3 children’s activities, I see this headline from the Skin Cancer Foundation: “Running Into the Sun.” Of course, this article is a MUST read for me.
It is not a surprise that runners, and specifically marathon runners, would have a higher incidence of skin cancer simply due to the fact that most of us run outside. But, the statistics described in this study really caught my attention. A study conducted in Austria by a group of dermatologists found some interesting pieces of information. Not only do marathon runners have an increased risk of melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer), but they also have an increased number of irregular moles, basal and squamous cell skin cancers, as well as solar lentigines (flat brown spots commonly called “age spots”). All of these findings put those of us who train for marathons at an increased risk for melanoma.
Besides neglecting sun protection, most of us run in shorts, tanks, or short sleeved shirts. This causes more skin to be exposed as well as poses a more significant body surface area for sunscreen application. Only 56 percent of individuals in the study regularly apply sunscreen. So, since us devoted marathon runners are most definitely not going to stop running, what’s a runner to do? Here are a few suggestions offered by the Skin Cancer Foundation:
-Try to avoid running between the most intense hours of UV exposure : 10am-4pm
-Apply sunscreen BEFORE you run and BEFORE you put on your running clothes.
-Use an SPF of 30 or higher. Look for 80 minute water resistant formulations of sunscreens.
-REAPPLY your sunscreen during long runs and races ( I actually did this on Saturday!)
-Wear a hat or visor as well as sunglasses with polarized lenses
Hopefully, you have found this information enlightening, just as I did. I wish you all many happy tempo runs, hill repeats, interval runs, and most of all, A Spring PR!
Kerri Otto PA-C
Article can be read at http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/outdoor-activities/running-into-the-sun
