When you play Outdoor Pickleball, Do You Wear Sunscreen?


Where do you prefer to play pickleball?  Indoor or Outdoor?

Most players strongly prefer one over the other.

For those of you who love outdoor pickleball, do you wear sunscreen?

Since players often play pickleball for several hours, they need sun protection.

Skin cancer is not something to take lightly.

Even for players who tan easily, sunscreen is important.  

However, there are two problems with sunscreen:

 1.  Will it stay on while sweating?

 2.  Will it burn your eyes when sweating?


Those are two important issues.

If your sunscreen washes off quickly while you are sweating, it is not protecting you from the harmful rays of the sun. 

And, if you do use sunscreen, and it washes off with your sweating, the chemicals in the sunscreen can be very irritating to your eyes and can create a burning feeling in your eyes.

Sunscreen tend to be one of two types:  Chemical or Physical

Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays into the skin, convert them into heat, and then release them from the body.

Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin and reflect the sun's rays away from the body.

Although chemical sunscreens can be labelled as water-resistant or waterproof, they are usually not truly sweat proof.

The physical sunscreens which contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide do not tend to disappear with sweating.  They also do not tend to irritate the eyes.

Therefore, the physical sunscreens are generally better for most people playing outdoor pickleball. 

Whichever sunscreen you choose, don't forget to reapply at recommended intervals for your skin type. 

Remember, skin cancer is real. 

​So protect yourself!