Raising awareness about sun protection on skin cancer action week 2018

6 min read

How you can help us raise awareness about sun protection this Skin Cancer Action Week.

Over the coming weeks, we will be publishing some stories from the Solbari Community to help raise awareness about skin cancer, melanoma and sun protection.

If you are interested in sharing your story, please answer the following questions from the relevant questionnaire and send us a picture of yourself being sun safe in the outdoors.

We will be running 2 questionnaires.

Questionnaire 1:
For individuals who have been diagnosed with skin cancer or melanoma:
1) What is your name?
2) Describe yourself in 3 to 5 words.
3) How did you discover your skin cancer/melanoma and how long ago?
4) What is your attitude towards sun protection today?
5) What would you tell your 16 year old self about sun protection?
Please send your answers to info@solbari.com along with a picture of yourself being sun safe in the outdoors. The total word count should be between 300 and 700 words. Please send your answers and picture before the 15th of December 2018. We will publish the first 8 stories we receive*.

Questionnaire 2:
For individuals who have not been diagnosed with skin cancer or melanoma:
1) What is your name?
2) Describe yourself in 3 to 5 words.
3) What is your attitude towards sun protection today?
4) What would you tell your 16 year old self about sun protection?
Please send your answers to info@solbari.com along with a picture of yourself being sun safe in the outdoors. The total word count should be between 300 and 700 words. Please send your answers and picture before the 15th of December 2018. We will publish the first 8 stories we receive*.

Why we are raising awareness:

Skin cancer is often labelled as Australia's national cancer but it is also described as the most preventable.

Many don't realise that not all fabrics protect the same from the sun. Did you know that a regular white cotton t-shirt may have the equivalent protection of wearing SPF5 sunscreen? All Solbari products have the highest sun protective rating available in the world for fabrics and are tested in Australia with a UPF50+ certification, which is the equivalent to wearing SPF50+ sunscreen all day long.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sun protective clothing, sun hats, UPF50+ accessories, sunglasses and sunscreen are the best ways to help prevent skin cancer.

2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70. The risk is higher in men (2 in 3) than in women (3 in 5).

Over 400,000 Australians are treated for skin cancer each year - over 1,000 people each day.

Research shows that sun exposure has been identified as the cause of 95% to 99% of skin cancers in Australia.

Over 1800 Australians die from skin cancer each year (latest available figures from 2009: melanoma and non-melanoma).

Notwithstanding the human suffering, the financial cost of treating skin cancer and melanoma is also high.

Each year, more people die from skin cancer than from road accidents in Australia.

Each year, Australians are four times more likely to develop a common skin cancer than any other form of cancer.

67% of Australians who die from skin cancer are men.

Sun damage is cumulative and it is never too late to become sun smart.

A reminder of the 5 sun protective measures well known in Australia to keep you safe in the sun:

slip on sun protective clothing
slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum sunscreen
slap on a broad brimmed hat and sun protective accessories
seek shade by using an umbrella
slide on sunglasses.

A combination of these measures along with getting to know your skin and regularly checking for any changes are the keys to reducing your skin cancer risk.

Solbari is an award winning purpose-driven social enterprise with the mission to offer the best in UPF50+ sun protection with great style and comfort, so you can enjoy the outdoors safely in the sun.

* By sending your story and picture to Solbari, you give Solabri consent to publish your story and picture to Solbari's website and Solbari's Facebook page.