Underneath the Bow: Protecting Your Skin

 

With the beautiful weather upon us, many coaches will take their teams outside the gymnasium doors and onto the field or turf for practice, conditioning, tryouts, and camp.  As you begin preparing for what you need for the upcoming event, many of us focus on the essentials (cheer sneakers, shorts, tank top, bow, water), but we tend to neglect one of the most important items our bodies need to stay safe when we are outside: sunscreen!

With more than a million Americans diagnosed each year with skin cancer, especially young adults, it’s more important than ever to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.  When choosing a sunscreen that’s right for you, there are a few rules of thumb you should follow.  Check out the guidelines below to keep your skin looking radiant while accomplishing your goals in the sun.

·       Choose a sunscreen that is easiest for you to apply and reapply. Whether your sunscreen is a lotion, sport stick, or mist, it doesn’t necessarily affect your protection.  Whichever one is the most convenient for you to put on is the best choice to pick.

·       Make sure the brand that you purchase has a seal of approval from either The Skin Cancer Foundation or The American Academy of Dermatology.

 

·       Look for sunscreen that protects against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays.  The label should indicate that the sunscreen is broad-spectrum coverage.

·       As an athlete, especially a cheerleader, the last thing you want is sunscreen to drip into your eyes as you’re stunting or tumbling.  Look for sunscreen that’s labeled “water resistant” or “sweat resistant."

·       Sun protection factor (SPF) is the key component to look for on a bottle for effective protection.  SPF will give you an idea of how long you can spend outdoors before getting sunburned.  Dermatologists suggest using sunscreen with an SPF of either 30 or 45 and to reapply every two hours or sooner if you feel your skin starting to burn.

·       Make sure and use sunscreen every day, including cloudy or overcast days.  Apply your sunscreen at least thirty minutes before you are going to be outside to insure it absorbs into your skin before sun exposure.

 

 

Shari Tarburton is Cheer360’s Co-Founder and Director of Educational Programming.  She is a New York State Certified Health and Physical Education Teacher, a certified Personal Trainer and Mental Game Coach, and a Varsity cheerleading coach.