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Rachel V Thomas

Olympic Legend Liz McCollgan Warns Athletes To Protect Skin From Sun

Scottish <span>Olympic</span> legend <span>Liz McColgan</span> has warned athletes to wear sun protection during their training hours to protect their skin from “lasting consequences”.

Liz <span>McColgan</span> shared the health warning to athletes after undergoing surgery to remove lesions on her face.

The Olympic silver medalist from Dundee shared post-surgery photographs on the social media platform Instagram and lamented that, as a young runner, she never focused on wearing sun protection.

Avoiding sun cream because she felt it made her "sweat more" was her “ignorance”, said the 61-year-old former athlete.

“As a young athlete, I trained and raced in all weathers. Sun protection was never something I gave much thought to. In fact, I avoided it. I didn’t like the feeling of creams on my skin - I thought they made me sweat more, so I convinced myself I was better off without them. Looking back, that was ignorance,” Liz McColgan said. 

“Recently, I had to undergo surgery to remove two lesions on my face. It was a stark reminder that the choices we make early on - especially the ones we dismiss as unimportant - can have lasting consequences,” she added. 

Liz McColgan noted that athletes keep all their focus on "performance - mileage, sessions, recovery, nutrition”, but simple things like protecting their skin are often ignored.

“Yet it’s just as much a part of our overall health and wellbeing as any training session,” she said.

Sharing the health message to both young and old athletes, McColgan said, “Take sun protection seriously. Whether you’re training, racing, or even just spending time outdoors, protecting your skin matters.” 

McColgan won a silver medal in the same event at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In 1991, she went on to win the 10,000m World Championships title in Tokyo.

Also read:<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/5-simple-dos-and-donts-to-for-healthy-skin-article-151166368" data-type="tilCustomLink">5 Simple Do's And Don'ts For Healthy Skin</a>

<h2>Why <span rel="noindex">Sunscreen</span> Is Essential</h2>

Using sunscreen protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes 

<ul><li><span rel="noindex"><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/skin-cancer">skin cancer</a></span>, </li><li>premature aging, </li><li>painful sunburns.</li></ul>It is always best to apply a sunscreen with an SPF 50+. A cream is better than a spray, and must also be reapplied every two hours. 

<h2>Should Sunscreen Be Used Indoors Too?</h2>

Sunscreen is meant to be part of a daily skincare routine. But most people reach for sunscreen when heading to the beach or stepping out for a long day in the sun.  

According to dermatologists, sunlight can still reach you indoors. 

Dr Khushboo Jha, Chief Dermatologist Consultant at Metro Hospital, explains that sunlight entering through windows can still affect the skin.

“While standard window glass blocks most UVB rays, which cause sunburn, <span>UVA</span> rays can still pass through. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are linked to long-term concerns such as premature aging, uneven pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity,” she said.

These UVA rays are often overlooked because they do not cause immediate redness or burning like UVB rays. However, over time, they can lead to visible signs of skin aging and pigmentation.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/why-should-you-must-apply-sunscreen-inside-a-plane-article-151703289" data-type="tilCustomLink">Why Should You Must Apply Sunscreen Inside A Plane?</a>

<h2>A Practical Approach To Daily Skincare</h2>

Dermatologists suggest viewing sunscreen as a preventive skincare habit rather than a rigid rule.

Dr Jha recommends incorporating sunscreen into your morning routine, particularly if your day includes stepping outdoors or spending time in naturally lit environments.

In simple terms, if daylight reaches your workspace or you plan to go outside later in the day, applying sunscreen in the morning is a small step that can help protect your skin over time.

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Scottish Olympic legend Liz McColgan has warned athletes to wear sun protection during their training hours to protect their skin from “lasting consequences”. Liz McColgan shared the health warning to athletes after undergoing surgery to remove lesions on her face. The Olympic silver medalist from Dundee shared post-surgery photographs on the social media platform Instagram and lamented that, as a young runner, she never focused on wearing sun protection. Avoiding sun cream because she felt it made her "sweat more" was her “ignorance”, said the 61-year-old former athlete. “As a young athlete, I trained and raced in all weathers. Sun protection was never something I gave much thought to. In fact, I avoided it. I didn’t like the feeling of creams on my skin - I thought they made me sweat more, so I convinced myself I was better off without them. Looking back, that was ignorance,” Liz McColgan said.  “Recently, I had to undergo surgery to remove two lesions on my face. It was a stark reminder that the choices we make early on - especially the ones we dismiss as unimportant - can have lasting consequences,” she added.  Liz McColgan noted that athletes keep all their focus on "performance - mileage, sessions, recovery, nutrition”, but simple things like protecting their skin are often ignored. “Yet it’s just as much a part of our overall health and wellbeing as any training session,” she said.           View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Liz Mccolgan🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇶🇦 (@lizmccolgan)]]>Sharing the health message to both young and old athletes, McColgan said, “Take sun protection seriously. Whether you’re training, racing, or even just spending time outdoors, protecting your skin matters.”  McColgan won a silver medal in the same event at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In 1991, she went on to win the 10,000m World Championships title in Tokyo. Also read:5 Simple Do's And Don'ts For Healthy SkinWhy Sunscreen Is Essential Using sunscreen protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which causes skin cancer, premature aging, painful sunburns.It is always best to apply a sunscreen with an SPF 50+. A cream is better than a spray, and must also be reapplied every two hours.  Should Sunscreen Be Used Indoors Too? Sunscreen is meant to be part of a daily skincare routine. But most people reach for sunscreen when heading to the beach or stepping out for a long day in the sun.  According to dermatologists, sunlight can still reach you indoors. Dr Khushboo Jha, Chief Dermatologist Consultant at Metro Hospital, explains that sunlight entering through windows can still affect the skin. “While standard window glass blocks most UVB rays, which cause sunburn, UVA rays can still pass through. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin and are linked to long-term concerns such as premature aging, uneven pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity,” she said. These UVA rays are often overlooked because they do not cause immediate redness or burning like UVB rays. However, over time, they can lead to visible signs of skin aging and pigmentation. Also read: Why Should You Must Apply Sunscreen Inside A Plane?A Practical Approach To Daily SkincareDermatologists suggest viewing sunscreen as a preventive skincare habit rather than a rigid rule.Dr Jha recommends incorporating sunscreen into your morning routine, particularly if your day includes stepping outdoors or spending time in naturally lit environments.In simple terms, if daylight reaches your workspace or you plan to go outside later in the day, applying sunscreen in the morning is a small step that can help protect your skin over time.

scottish olympic legend liz mccollgan warns athletes to protect skin from sun

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Olympic Legend Liz McCollgan Warns Athletes To Protect Skin From Sun

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Olympic Legend Liz McCollgan Warns Athletes To Protect Skin From Sun

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Health Conditions A-Z

Olympic Legend Liz McCollgan Warns Athletes To Protect Skin From Sun

​Tpoxx Should No Longer Be Used For Treating Mpox: European Drug Regulator

Suffering From Mid-back Pain? Doctors Say It May Be Spinal TB

Tpoxx Should No Longer Be Used For Treating Mpox: European Drug Regulator