•European and World Champion, France Amateur Team • More than 40 Top 10 on the LPGA • French N ° 1 on the LPGA Tour for more than 10 years • 4 selections in Solheim cup • Participation to the 2016 Olympics Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

- Karine, how did you decide to partner with DERMASWING® to promote Sun Protection Awareness for Golfers ?

I have been a professional golfer for many years and I learned what it is, to be exposed to UV daily and what it means for my skin. However, the majority of golfers are not aware that the sun is a real danger for their skin and that applying sunscreen on the course is mandatory. An 18-hole game exposes the golfer to a very significant dose of UV light. Solar exposure is indeed both intense and long. Golfers often play in the middle of the day, when the sun is highest in the sky and the UV radiation most intense. They cumulate exposure because they spend several hours a day on the course, many days in the year, for many years.

Medical specialists are unanimous : the rate of skin cancer among golfers is on the rise.

In France, nearly 500 new skin cancers are detected among golfers each year. A precise medical study was conducted at the exit of 6 golf courses of Marbella in Spain. This study found that of 351 golfers examined by dermatologists, 10.7% had undetected skin cancer and 40% had precancerous conditions.

My advice to everyone, whether you are a casual golfer or a golf addict: remember to protect yourself, because 4 hours under the sun can damage your skin permanently.

- Can you share with us your personal « routine » regarding your sun protection on the course?

I have been golfing since I was a kid and sunscreen is actually part of my daily routine.

I apply my sunscreen methodically on my face, the back of my right hand, my arms, my neck and throat, not forgetting my ears, with special attention to the back part of the lobes. Indeed, it is one of the areas where dermatologists find most cancerous lesions in golfers.

- You live in Orlando Florida, is that why you are particularly aware of the risks of the sun ?

The sun is actually very intense here. The dangers of the sun on the course are well recognized in the USA where many players on the PGA Tour are getting involved in the communication on sun prevention. During my travels on the pro-women’s circuit, I found that in countries such as South Africa, Australia or in Asia, players are much more aware of the necessity to protect themselves than in Europe. We see more and more Pros or amateur players wearing long sleeves and wide visors.

- You have a little girl, did you teach her early on why and how to protect herself ?

Yes of course, as a mother, I am extra cautious, especially because the sun here is quite strong. Our children will probably live longer lives than we do and they deserve to stay as young and healthy as possible. I believe that we must teach our little golfers as early as possible to protect themselves from the sun and preserve the health of their skin.

Children do not like to put greasy stuff on their face, but with the Dermaswing® applicator brush, applying sunscreen becomes very easy and practical for little ones. A child’s play !

- What are your relevant tips for a good sun protection on the course?

These are common sense tips that everyone should follow :

1. Wear a cap or a hat, and well fitting wrap around sunglasses.

2. Apply sunscreen before playing and again after the 9th hole or after 2 hours of play.

3. Definitely avoid getting a sunburn. If you do not protect yourself properly, you won’t feel anything coming until it is too late, because UV rays will burn without heating first. The sunburn induces irreversible deep lesions of the skin that accumulate over time.

4. Do not forget to protect yourself even when the sky is cloudy. UV rays can cross the clouds. In France, there are more melanomas in cloudy Brittany than on the sunny Côte d’Azur..

5. Select a protection with the highest SFP index (50 +).

There is no such thing as “total” sunblock. With a maximum SPF you are better protected, and more importantly, much longer. The tan will be brighter and will fade away less rapidly. If you take a lower SPF, you will have to apply it more often for the same level of protection and in the end, it will cost you more ...

- You have decided to be an ambassador for DERMASWING®. Why do you like this particular product ?

I had quite an immediate crush on DERMASWING® because it is the first product designed specifically for golfers, which meets all the requirements of our sport.

It’s the only sunscreen that leaves my grip clean. With its smart brush, I can apply it and reapply it without ever having cream on my hands. It is so easy that I can even apply it when walking and carrying my bag. The cream, which is formulated and manufactured in France, is not greasy or sticky, and does not leave my skin white. Its fairly neutral scent is very subtle and pleasant. It is composed of very safe ingredients, selected by a team of golf addicted doctors and pharmacists. It is very resistant to sweat (tests prove that the protection remains the same after going to the steam room!). There is not a chance that the cream may run into my eyes at a critical point of the game. Protecting myself from the sun becomes very easy and effective, so I can focus even more on my game.

- A French ambassador for a French start-up, was it the natural thing to do ?

There is a real cosmetic know-how in France, whose excellence is internationally acclaimed. French cosmetics are very popular in the US for their quality and performance. There is no equivalent sunscreen to DERMASWING® in North America.

No doubt I am very proud to contribute to the success of this very innovative French product on the international market.