Protect Your Skin with These Tips from Sun SafeTee

At the recent Haggin Oaks Golf Expo, Golfer’s Skin sponsored a seminar entitled, “The Importance of Taking Care of Your Skin AND Your Game”. We all know sunscreen is important, but do you know how important it is? I sat in on this seminar to learn more on the importance of protecting your skin when out on the golf course… or outside anywhere!

Let’s start with the facts. They are sobering! Over 1 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year alone and one out of five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Skin cancer is the most prolific and most preventative form of cancer and over 70,000 people die each year from skin cancer.

The basic building block of your daily suncare regimen should be to apply sunscreen. When shopping, look for a sunscreen that is 30+ SPF.  Most sunscreens take 20-30 minutes to set up, and they need to be reapplied every 2-3 hours. If you are playing a round of golf, then you will need to reapply it once or twice out on the course during your round. When buying sunscreen, look for a brand that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. These sunscreens are frequently marketed as providing “Broad Spectrum” coverage. Remember Sun Safe Tee’s tip: “Don’t Burn… Reapply at the Turn!!!”

This seminar was sponsored by Golfers Skin sunscreen which our employees and customers both love. “This product has been specifically designed to deliver superior broad spectrum protection, even after 2 hours of intense perspiration. SPF 30+ UVA/UVB broad spectrum protection, non-greasy, very sweat resistant and very water resistant formula. Antioxidant rich Manuka Honey fights free radicals while hydrating your skin. Best of all, Golfersskin won’t interfere with your grip!”

I learned a few interesting facts, including the fact that SPF ONLY protects against UVB rays. UVB can be remembered as “Burning Rays” and UVA rays are known as the “Aging Rays”. Also, a sunscreen labeled SPF 30 blocks 97% of the sun’s rays while SPF 50 blocks 97.6%. Only an extra 0.6%?!? Watch the labels when purchasing your sunscreen, as I found this a bit deceptive when it comes to marketing. I also learned that in the not so distant future, SPF50 will be the highest level of sun protection that can be advertised. This makes perfect sense to me, since anything higher really isn’t providing that much better coverage.

After slathering on the sunscreen, your next step is to wear appropriate clothing. To protect your skin, wear UPF garments rated 30 or 50 when out in the sun. Check out the sport sunsleeves from ICONIC too. These sleeves block 98% of UV rays and they’ll keep you cooler too. I picked up a couple of pair of the ICONIC sleeves for my mom and grandma after watching this seminar. (They made good gifts for Mother’s Day!)

The next step is to invest in some good headwear. Most baseball style caps don’t qualify, because they don’t effectively protect your ears, nose or lips. Invest in a wide brimmed hat. And while we’re talking about the face and head, wear good, protective eyewear with UV protection.

Sun SafeTee has some additional tips that are good for all of us to remember. Be sure to seek shade wherever possible and stay hydrated! This means no caffeine or sugary drinks and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. By then, you are already dehydrated.

Also, be aware of these signs of overheating and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these signs:

• Confusion
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of consciousness