Reduce UV Exposure to Prevent Skin Cancer

Tools to promote protection from harmful UV rays and reduce skin cancer risk

Skin cancer prevention guidelines recommend multiple behaviors to protect against harmful ultraviolet rays, yet few adults sufficiently protect themselves from sun exposure. The purpose of this study was to identify common beliefs among white adults regarding sun protection behaviors, and to create and test effective messages based on those findings.

This toolkit contains messages that can be utilized by public health professionals to encourage sun protection behaviors. 

  • Messages are available in three formats: 30-second video PSAs, 30-second radio PSAs, and posters.
  • Click through the tabs within each prevention message below for useful tools.

UPenn PRC Skin Cancer Communication 2020

View & print the complete toolkit

Use shade to be sun safe.

And remember your shirt, hat, and sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher to prevent skin cancer, and to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.

Recommended Behavior: Avoidance

This message focuses on the UV protection strategy of avoidance, like seeking shade and staying out of the sun during peak hours.

 

If you are going to the park to watch your favorite soccer player’s game, remember to use shade to be sun safe. Bring along a pop-up shade tent and share it with your friends and neighbors. Everybody scores! And remember, a cover-up shirt, hat, and sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, to prevent skin cancer and to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.

Shade. It can turn a picnic into a party.

You’ll have a great time and protect yourself and your friends from harmful UV rays.

Recommended Behavior: Avoidance

This message focuses on the UV protection strategy of avoidance, like seeking shade and staying out of the sun during peak hours.

Enjoy your time in the sun.

Don’t damage your skin or ruin your vacation. Wear a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher along with a hat and shirt to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays.

Recommended Behavior: Protection

 

This message focuses on all of the UV protection strategies, covering up with a hat and shirt, avoidance by seeking shade, and protective measures, like sunscreen.

Have you ever gotten a bad sunburn on your vacation? There’s always so much to do – going to the beach, taking a hike, seeing the sites. It’s easy to forget to put on sunscreen, especially on the first day out. To fully enjoy your time in the sun, wear a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and remember to reapply. Don’t damage your skin or ruin your vacation.

Avoid the apocalypse.

Take the time to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun.

Recommended Behavior: Covering Up

This message focuses UV protection strategy of avoidance, like seeking shade and staying out of the sun during peak hours.

Music festivals are a great way to spend a day, but too much sun can have a powerful effect on your skin. A full day of UV radiation can make you feel like a zombie crawling for shade. Take the time to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and reapply every two hours to avoid the apocalypse, or at least a sunburn. A shirt and hat will help too.”

Enjoy yourself at the BBQ...but don't get grilled.

Avoid sunburns…cover up to prevent skin cancer.

Recommended Behavior: Covering Up

This message focuses UV protection strategy of covering up with a hat, sunglasses and clothing.

It’s Barbecue time! The grills are out and everybody is getting together with friends and family to enjoy good food and good times. Enjoy yourself, but make sure that your burgers and dogs are the only things that get grilled this season. Avoid sunburns and damage to your skin caused by the sun to prevent skin cancer. Use a shirt and a hat to protect yourself. And remember to use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.

Wear cover up clothing to battle damaging UV rays that can cause skin cancer.

Don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Recommended Behavior: Covering Up

This message focuses UV protection strategy of covering up with a hat, sunglasses and clothing.

It doesn’t take a full suit of armor to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. You don’t need to take such drastic measures – it really is simpler than that. Wear cover-up clothing like a long sleeve shirt to battle UV rays that can cause skin cancer. It’s easy to cover up. And don’t forget your hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses!

Wearing a hat can help reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Protect yourself against skin damage and skin cancer.

Recommended Behavior: Covering Up, Protection

This message focuses UV protection strategy of covering up with a hat, sunglasses and clothing.

Did you know that most skin cancers show up on the face and head? Wearing a hat is a great way to protect your head, ears, and neck from the harmful rays of the sun. So no matter what your style – wide-brimmed, baseball, visor, or safari – find the hat that’s best for you to really enjoy your time outdoors.

The right match for sun safety.

Wear cover-up clothing and a hat to protect yourself from the damaging rays of the sun, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Recommended Behaviors: Avoidance, Protection, Covering Up

 

This message focuses on all of the UV protection strategies, covering up with a hat and shirt, avoidance by seeking shade, and protective measures, like sunscreen.

Dating apps are pretty popular these days. If you are looking for someone who enjoys being outdoors but likes to be sun-safe, there is a new app just for you – it’s called Cinder. All you have to do is swipe left for sunburns, and swipe right for the hat, sunglasses and cover-up clothing that fits your style. Cinder – coming soon. It will help you find the right match for sun safety.