Sarasota Dermatology Blog

Sun Protection Tips for Golfers

Posted on 15. Feb, 2009 by Bradley J. Abrams, D.O. in Skin Care

After a round of golf, the guys in my foursome started discussing their favorite item in their golfbag. One of them prefers his driver, another his putter.   When they asked me, I simply said, “My Sunscreen.”

Use an effective sunscreen

I always ensure I use an effective sunscreen when I golf. An effective sunscreen will block both UVA and UVB rays. Think about it. A round of golf can take four to six hours to play and preferred weekend tee times are generally in the mid-morning. Therefore, a golfer who tees off around 10 a.m. will be playing during the hours of the day when the sun is at its hottest. This means golfers are exposed to a lot of sun at the worst times.

An effective sunscreen is very important for women golfers too. A lot of women golfers have a UV factor in the make-up they use. Having a UV factor in makeup will provide some protection from the sun’s harmful rays. I would not recommend this their only protection, especially if they are very active or outdoors a lot. I realize that women golfers don’t like the shine that an effective sunscreen gives their face. Therefore, I always tell them to top their sunscreen with a blended face powder to help minimize the shine.

Re-apply sunscreen at the turn.

I’ve discovered a lot of my fellow golfers are good at applying sunscreen before they golf, but forget to re-apply it during their round. Re-applying is very important. The effectiveness of sunscreen is diminished the longer you are out in the sun, especially if you’re sweating. My general rule is to re-apply sunscreen every two hours. Instead of watching the time, I reapply my sunscreen at the turn (after 9 holes). In fact, I wish golf courses would offer golfers sunscreen between the ninth green and tenth tee.

Replace your sunscreen regularly

It is also very important to replace the sunscreen in your golf bag regularly. Have you ever wondered why you got sunburned after applying that old sunscreen you had in your bag? Typically, sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time. Therefore, I always recommend to replace your sunscreen at the start of the new golf season.

Wear sun protective clothing.

The next important step to protecting yourself from the sun is to wear protective clothing, especially a wide-brimmed hat. Sun protective clothing uses fabric to help protect your skin. Fabric is rated using an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UCF). UCF is very similar to the SPF rating for sunscreens. Sun Precautions® and Solumbra® are brands of sun protective clothing I recommend to my patients.

Play “shade” golf.

Learn how to play “shade” golf. Basically, seek shade when you’re waiting to take your next shot. I always park my golf cart under a tree if possible. Not only does a shady spot help protect me from the sun it keeps me cooler. In Florida, keeping cool is very important to enjoying a round of golf in the summer.

Drive down your risk of skin cancer.

All golfers want to lower their golf score. Now it’s time to drive down your risk of skin cancer by protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. You’ll appreciate avoiding that painful sunburn and potentially dangerous skin cancer in the future.

Tags: effectiveness of screen, face powder, sunscreen, uv factor, uva and uvb, women golfers