Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide, and each year more than 2000 Australians die from this disease. Skin cancer is almost entirely preventable however and below are some great ways to protect yourself both in and out of the pool.
Sunscreen is one of the most important aspects of prevention, but proper application is key. Follow these simple steps to ensure you are protected:
– Apply 20mins before going outdoors or into the pool
– Always use SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen
– Reapply every two hours
– Swimming, sweating, and drying off with a towel will all reduce effective, so be sure to reapply after these activities
– Aerosol sunscreen is difficult to apply correctly, and so is not recommended on pool deck, there are other measures you can use to help protect you from sun exposure:
– Sun protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible
– Wear a hat
– Seek shade
– Wear sunglasses
These easy tips will make s huge difference to your sun exposure, and over a lifetime, will help significantly reduce your risk of skin cancers. Lastly, the UV index is one measure that helps us understand the risk of the current levels of sun exposure. Any UV index above 3 confers some risk from the sun exposure. Download the SunSmart UV app to always have SunSmart protection advice at your fingertips.
Following these tips will help ensure you’re healthy in the long run but will also help avoid sunburn in the short term. We know sunburn can be painful, and can also be associated with dehydration, which will affect your water polo performance.
So, stay protected so you can be at your best in the pool.
Dr Carlee Van Dyk
WPA Chief Medical Officer
