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I just ran my first marathon over the weekend and it got me thinking about skincare for athletes. As athletes, we do so much to prepare physically and mentally for a race but are we thinking about our skin in the same way? A non-elite runner takes anywhere from 4-6 hours to complete a race and that right there is a LOT of sun exposure. Below are a few tips to help you protect your skin while running this summer. Whether you are running a marathon or going for a 30 minute jog take precaution and protect your skin!
Understand that there are many factors that will put you at risk for dangerous sun exposure. Consider elevation, time of day, and amount of shade on your route. If you are doing a training run, take these factors into consideration when planning where and when to run. If you are running a race, research these factors ahead of the race so you can come prepared.
We need to hydrate every day for both physical health and skincare health. Prior to running a race it is essential to fill your body with hydrating fluids to prepare for the course ahead.
On the day of your run or day of the race, apply an anti-oxidant serum in the morning before your race. This will help to protect you against free-radicals. I personally use SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF.
This is essential in protecting your face and the rest of your body. Use a physical blocker with zinc to increase protection against UVA and UVB rays. I ran with the Obagi Sun Shield on my face and I was very pleased that when I sweat it didn't run into my eyes. While no sunscreen is truly water proof, try a sunscreen like Elta MD UV Aero Broad Spectrum SPF 45 fothat is water resistant and can protect you despite sweat. This is great for use on the body.
This will help to minimize the exposed skin to the suns harmful rays and can protect you on some longer runs.
If you are running a race and cannot control things like time of day and shaded route, keep in mind there are opportunities to reapply sunscreen. All of the aid stations along your race route will have sunscreen available for runners. If you are doing a longer race and will be exposed for more than two hours its a good idea to plan to stop at an aid station to re-apply. Check the race route the night before and plan out your stops accordingly. Or, if you are running in Colorado, stop by one of our AOB locations and we would be happy to give you a few sample sized packets you can bring along and reapply throughout the course.
Post race, find some shade to stretch and re-hydrate. It is essential for you cool down and get some fluids back in your body.
After a run it is important to cleanse your face removing any dust or dirt you may have picked up on the run so that you don't clog your pores. I suggest using a gentle cleanser such as m.pulse Oxygenated Cleanser. After washing your face apply a moisturizer to hydrate your skin.
A HydraFacial MD® is perfect for an athlete that has just finished a long race. It will remove any skin impurities, unclog pores and hydrate your skin. A single treatment will leave your skin nourished and restored after a run, hydrating thoroughly and giving you a radiant glow!
