May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to talk about a cause that is important to us at Wallaroo Hat Company, sun protection. Our core mission has always been to help eliminate the health threat of skin cancer through education, research, and prevention. This is the driving force behind our designs and continued philanthropic efforts.

As warmer weather returns and we venture outside, it’s more important than ever to practice protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sun damage is cumulative, so it’s never too late to reap the benefits of taking precautions when it comes to sun exposure. 90% of skin aging comes from sun damage, and those who use an SPF of 15 or higher each day show significantly less aging than those who do not. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the US than every other type of cancer combined, and more than 1 in 5 people will be diagnosed by the age of 70. “Remember that there's no such thing as a healthy tan,” notes dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, “Tanning is a defense mechanism that kicks in when the DNA of the skin cells is getting damaged.”

On top of SPF protection, it’s just as important to utilize UPF protection in your clothing.  SPF measures the amount of time it takes for exposed skin to redden, UPF measures the amount of radiation that penetrates a fabric and reaches the skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing a hat with a UPF rating of at least 30, along with a brim width of at least three inches, to shield you from 96-97.5% of harmful UV rays.

For more information on what you can do to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, visit The Skin Cancer Foundation and the Melanoma Research Foundation websites.

And as we like to say at Wallaroo: “It’s a Sunny Life. Wear Your Hat.”