Being out in the sun for prolonged periods of time can increase your risk of developing skin cancer, which is why it's a good idea to limit your direct exposure on hot and sunny days. Unfortunately, not everyone can simply opt to stay inside when it's hot outside. If you're a baseball player, there's a good chance that you'll have lots of games during sunny conditions — and you can't simply ask not to play on a given day because it's sunny. Over time, constantly being in these environments could heighten your risk of skin cancer. Fortunately, there are a handful of simple things that you can do to lower this risk.
Cover Up As Much As Possible
When you're a baseball player, you may not be able to get out of the direct sun at times. However, you can do a number of things to prevent direct contact with your skin. Sunscreen is a good idea, and many baseball teams make it available to their players. Cover any exposed areas, and if you sweat a lot during the game, reapply the sunscreen one or more additional times. You can also wear a long-sleeved, compression-style shirt beneath your uniform. This will prevent your arms from being exposed to direct sunlight.
Seek Shade When You Can
During the game, you may have to stand in a sunny area if the sun is beaming down onto the field. However, there may be other times that you have the ability to get into some shade. For example, if you're playing catch before the game, look for a part of the field that has some shade. Additionally, if you're standing around the batting cage to take batting practice, find a shady area if one exists. Simple efforts such as these can reduce your direct exposure to sunlight.
Check Your Body Constantly
As an athlete, you likely spend a lot of time building your body in the gym. As you focus on your body, don't be afraid to also focus on your skin. Keep an eye on any skin blemishes that appear to be growing or that have worsened after prolonged exposure to the sun. Don't just shrug these off with the hope that they'll go away. Instead, speak to a local dermatologist to express your concerns. By catching an instance of skin cancer as early as possible, your dermatologist can get you started with skin cancer treatments.