Why sunscreen is the first thing Cate Campbell reaches for each morning

After a brush with melanoma, Olympian and gold medallist Cate Campbell takes no chances with sun protection.

She’s a gold medallist swimmer and world record holder, but elite swimmer Cate Campbell’s life could have come crashing down in 2018.

After bumping into a friend who’d had a near-miss with melanoma, the Brisbane-based Olympian booked in for a skin scan – and was shocked to discover she had a stage one melanoma growing in a mole in her arm.

“Getting my skin checked saved my life,” Cate says.

“I caught my melanoma at stage one and it could be easily removed. If it had grown down even one millimetre under my skin, the cancer could have gotten into other tissue or even my bloodstream and I may have had to have my lymph nodes removed and undergo radiation treatment.

“My message to everyone is: go get a skin check, it takes 30 minutes! If you leave it too long, it could cost you your life.”

Sunscreen is now part of daily skin routine

Cate, 28, says she’s now “super vigilant about applying sunscreen and finding shade”.

“I still go outdoors and enjoy the sun but I make sure I protect myself – and hand out sunscreen to all of my friends,” she explains.

Cate, a paid brand ambassador for Avène sunscreens, says the Avène SPF50+ Face Emulsion is lightweight, mattifying and “ideal under makeup”.

“I look for a sunscreen that is SPF50+ protection and soothing on sensitive skin,” she says.

“Avène sunscreen has been dermatologically tested, is rich in thermal spring water and offers broad spectrum UVB-UVA protection – sunscreen the first product that touches my face each morning.”

Make sun safety a habit in a post-pandemic world

Coming into summer and out of coronavirus lockdown may pose a potentially risky combination, Cate says.

“Many of us – especially those in Melbourne – have spent a lot of time indoors and out of the sun,” she states.

“With the relaxing of restrictions, I think people are going to be soaking up as much sun as they can get, which is why it’s so important to have sun safety as part of your usual routine.”

What’s next for the superstar swimmer?

“I’m definitely looking forward to the (Tokyo) Olympics next year,” she grins.

“It was pretty devastating when they got postponed earlier this year.

“Outside of the pool, I’ve started scuba diving and absolutely love it. So I’m looking forward to having a bit more time to find some fun dive spots around Australia.”

* This post is brought to you by Avène sunscreens. This content is the opinion of, and/or general information provided by Cate Campbell. Individuals should always consult a relevant professional to obtain advice about their individual circumstances. Always read the label. Follow directions for use. Avoid prolonged high-risk sun exposure. Wear long sleeve shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Reapply frequently to maintain protection.

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