Be SunAWARE
Protect yourself and your family with simple steps to prevent and detect skin cancers.

When you allow yourself to be exposed to ultraviolet radiation, whether from the sun or tanning beds, you invite skin damage, skin cancer, immune suppression, macular degeneration and cataracts.  The increase in the number of diagnosed cases of these problems is directly related to lifestyles and environmental carelessness – ozone depletion and global warming. Given this knowledge, which is backed by decades of scientific studies, you can and should take measures to protect yourself. Be SunAWARE and protect yourself and your family from the problems associated with sun exposure by following these steps.

	Avoid unprotected exposure at any time but especially between the hours of peak ultraviolet radiation (between 10:00am and 4:00pm) and seek shade.
	Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeve shirt, a hat with a three-inch brim, and sunglasses.
	Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to all unprotected skin twenty minutes before exposure and reapply every two hours while exposed.
	Routinely check skin for changes and report suspicious changes to a health care provider.
	Educate others about the need for sun protection.

This acronym is based on the advice given by countless organizations, including the Skin Cancer Foundation, The World Health Organization, The American Academy of Dermatology, the Environmental Protection Agency and The American Cancer Society.  We believe it is the most up-to-date advice about sun protection.  Be SunAWARE and know that exposure to UVR can cause premature aging of the skin and skin cancers, including melanoma.

The following organizations have endorsed SunAWARE:

Dermatology Nurses Association
Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation
Coolibar

For more information on how SunAWARE is important to you, please see the following:

Children and SunAWARE (Coming Soon)
Outdoor Workers and SunAWARE (Coming Soon)
Baby Boomers and SunAWARE (Coming Soon)
Teens and SunAWARE (Coming Soon)

Sun Protection for Life was given the  2005 Gold Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology for excellence in public education of dermatologic issues.