That Other Sports Injury: Sun Damage
by Adrian R. Smith M.D.
My father describes the Mississippi sun as “bad hot.” It also can produce bad skin results. It may not occur to us that one of the main injuries our children can get playing youth sports is sun damage.
We need to be aware of the damage ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes.
More than a million people develop skin cancer every year. Most can
trace their diagnosis to a life of excessive sun exposure. As few as
five childhood sunburns may increase your chance of developing melanoma.
What can we do?
First, avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at its most intense.
Schedule practices or pool trips at other times. Apply the strongest
possible sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Use a sunscreen that
blocks uvA and uvB rays, both of which cause skin damage. The SPF on
your sunscreen tells how well it blocks ultraviolet rays.
Sweating and swimming decrease sunscreen’s effectiveness. Reapply at
least every two hours. Reapply at halftime of a soccer game, while
eating a snack at the pool, or while in the dugout waiting for your
child’s turn at bat.
Darker skinned children and those with a significant base tan don’t need
to reapply as often as classic peaches-and-cream complexions, but tan
folks still can be harmed by solar radiation.
Baseball caps keep the sun out of your eyes and at least somewhat off
your face’s skin. The ideal hat is breathable with a 4-5 inch brim all
the way around. We won’t see these on the baseball diamond any time soon.
Sunglasses decrease sun exposure to your eyes.
Portable tents and umbrellas deflect or absorb the sun’s rays. (Don’t
assume that a cloud above is sufficient—it isn’t.)
Remember: the sun’s energy can be deflected off of water or sand and
make its way under a tent or umbrella.
Skin care is a family affair. It requires constant vigilance to produce
the best results. It’s worth your time.
Dr. Adrian R. Smith is on the staff of Jackson Face and Body Center, 2550 Flowood Drive, Flowood, MS.