I'm a bit sun phobic these days. Being super pale and freckle-y the sun cannot be the best friend I thought it was as a teenager. As the PNW is finally heating up my thoughts are seriously focused on not getting burnt. I actually wear SPF 15 for 365 days of the year. But with my new found sweat glands I've got to find some good coverage for the long runs I've got ahead of me.
Yesterday was actually my annual skin check visit with my Dermatologist. We had a very good common sense discussion regarding running and the summer sun. The following are some rules that he laid out for me while running.
Always wear a hat.
Be done with running before 9am, avoid the mid day sun.
Find trails with shade.
Try to wear a light colored long-sleeved dri-fit shirt.
Always wear sunscreen after 9am.
We also discussed proper use of sunscreen.
In order for sunscreen to be effective it must be reapplied every 2-3 hours.
Wear an SPF of 25 or higher.
Ingredients to look for: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Oxide, and Mexoryl.
Make sure that the coverage is for UVA in addition to UVB protection.
Right now I am rotating between Burt's Bees Natural Sun Care Chemical-Free Sunscreen SPF 30 and Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50. I actually hate the Burt's Bees because it cakes and wipes off with sweat. I like the Coppertone Water Babies but it is super high on toxicity and chemicals. I'm going to order a couple of different types and when I find the perfect sunscreen I will let you know.
Now, I personally don't want to look like a football in a few years. I already know that I've caused a lot of damage to my skin. But if I make a concerted effort to be smart about the sun I can at least slow down the aging I've already started. I really don't want people cheering for me when I run the marathon because they mistake me for an 85 year old.
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