CAPS FOR A CAUSE

Protect your skin. Prevent skin cancer. 

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Every tan, sunburn, or, worse, a blistering burn is a sign that your skin has been injured. Take the initiative to protect your skin. 

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Our goal at Caps For A Cause is to inform you of a comprehensive approach to protect your skin against harmful UV radiation. Sporting a wide-brimmed hat is a great place to start and offers measurable protection to your scalp, neck, ears, and face. Nevertheless, UV radiation is sneaky and can bounce off surfaces like water or snow and even penetrate through clouds. The sun is relentless, that's why we recommend using several measures to protect your skin is the best way to evade UV radiation and decrease your skin cancer risks.

 

Why use a wide-brimmed hat? 

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Did you know that in 1980 Australia implemented the “Slip Slop Slap Seek and Slide Campaign” in response to extremely high rates of skin cancer? The message is to slip on a UV-protective shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, seek shade when available, and slide on sunglasses to remind the public of the importance of UV protection. They even have a public health policy for children’s schools emphasizing “no hat, no play,” meaning children should not play outside for recess without their floppy, wide-brimmed hats. 

 

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Because of these primary prevention efforts, Australia has reported stable and declining rates of skin cancers. [2]

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Caps for A Cause Endorses... 

Several tips to protect your skin, in addition to wide-brimmed hats:

• Find shade when possible

• Wear sun-protective clothing

  • Look for UPF-rated clothing to ensure protection from UV radiation

  • Don’t forget to protect your eyes with sunglasses!

• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher

  • Broad spectrum refers to protection against multiple harmful UV rays, including UVA and UVB

  • Even if you don’t plan on getting in the water, your sweat can wick away sunscreen overtime

• Reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours, or anytime after getting out of water

• Be cautious around water, snow, and sand

  • UV radiation easily reflects off these surfaces, which can attack you from various angles

• Avoid tanning beds at all costs!

  • The use of indoor tanning beds is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer [4]

  • If you take anything away from this website, it should be to never use a tanning bed! Please!

 

Updated: 11/06/2022