Sweat-resistant mineral sunscreen with SPF 50, protective clothing with UPF rating, running hats, and timing your runs to avoid peak sun hours all help protect your skin when jogging.
If you’re a fan of pounding the streets on a regular basis, you’ll be well aware of the benefits it gives your body and mind. However, you might not be so much of a fan of the sun damage that can happen while you’re running – it’s a common issue for anyone spending a lot of time exercising outdoors and why sport sunscreen formulas came into being.
Joggers are at higher risk for sun damage than most people realize, particularly during the more intense hours of the day. But don’t worry, as we’re now going to try and help you by giving you some easy-to-use sun-safe jogging tips. So, let’s get started.
Wear Sport Sunscreen When You Go Out
Regular sunscreen tends to run into your eyes when you sweat, which is the last thing you need when you’re trying to run. Sport sunscreen, however, doesn’t make this happen. If you’re a jogger, look for water-resistant or sweat-resistant formulas – the maximum resistance time is 80 minutes, so if something claims longer, it’s lying.
SPF 50 is the sweet spot, as it blocks about 98% of UVB rays. Remember, you don’t have to apply it 15 to 30 minutes before you head out, as mineral sunscreen protects you straight away.
Time Your Runs to Avoid the Hottest Sun
The sun’s strongest between 10am and 4pm. If you can run early morning or late afternoon instead, you’ll be cutting your UV exposure in a big way. Also, remember, it’s not just for sunny days. Even on cloudy days, UV rays get through – up to 80% of them – so don’t skip sunscreen.
Wear a Hat
A running hat or visor can be a real life-saver. They can protect your face, ears, and scalp particularly if they have dark underbrims to reduce glare. Some joggers skip this because they think it’ll make them overheat, but a breathable running cap actually helps you stay cool by keeping sun off your head.
Get Proper Running Sunglasses
Ever found yourself squinting while running? That’s your eyes trying to cope with the glare – something that can actually be quite painful. It’s also not going to help your running form either. Look for wrap-around sunglasses, as they’ll not just protect your eyes, but the delicate skin around them, too.
Invest in Some UPF Clothing
Some running clothes have UV protection built in and every little helps. Look for a UPF rating of 50+ for the best protection, ideally with lightweight long sleeves. It might sound counterintuitive for hot weather, but moisture-wicking fabrics with UPF actually keep you cooler than running in a vest with sunscreen that’s sweating off.
Use Sport Sunscreen, Clothing & Be Smart With Timing
There are lots of joggers out there that don’t really pay any attention to their skin getting damaged by the sun, but they absolutely should. Not only do you risk getting sunburn, sun damage or worse, but you’ll also end up looking older before your time. Wearing sunscreen, come rain or shine, is the only real way to get around it.
Sure, the other tips mentioned also help, but if you don’t get the fundamentals right, it’s only a matter of time until your skin suffers and it’s just not worth the risk.
