Sunscreen Is A Sport Essential

With spring here and summer coming on strong, we'll soon be soaking in the sun rays whether we intend to or not. That's why it's essential to add sunscreem to our list of sport essentials.

Sunscreen is as critical as warming up and cooling down. Wearing sunscreen protects our body's larges organ -- our skin -- from the sun's damaging and potentially deadly rays. It also ensures that we won't get a bad burn that will limit our mobility.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that you:

1. Use a suncreen with at least an SPF 15 rating that states on the container that it will block harmful UVA and UVB rays.
2. Apply the sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before you go out.
3. Reapply sunscreen every two hours -- even the water resistant version is not waterproof and will wear off after a while.
   

Sunscreen is not sunblock. Some harmful rays will still get through. The experts say it's a good idea to avoid exposure between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun is at its most intense. Also, wear a broad-brimmed hat and clothing that will block out the rays. Living in Florida, I also apply a thicker zinc sunblock on my nose, cheeks and ears when commitments force me to run in the sun.

Sunscreen can help ensure you are not one of the tens of thousands of Americans who will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. Slater it on.