May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

At Wallaroo Hat Company, we love the month of May. Flowers are blooming, summer is around the corner, and people in many parts of the world are coming out of winter hibernation. May is also Skin Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to the prevention, education, and eradication of skin cancer. Since warmer days mean more exposure to the sun, it’s a great time to think about protecting our skin.

Skin cancer awareness is not to be taken lightly. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and worldwide. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, and having five or more sunburns doubles a person’s risk for melanoma. 

While those statistics are alarming, the good news is that when detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is as high as 99 percent. There’s more good news… by establishing daily skin care habits year-round (not just in May), we can protect ourselves from the threat of skin cancer. 

As a company dedicated to providing functional and fashionable sun-protective headwear, Wallaroo has you covered. We're here to help you fully embrace the spirit of skin cancer awareness this month, and all year round. 

Sun Protection Starts at the Top

Logically, a good place to start when it comes to sun protection is with our heads - both literally and figuratively. To begin, let’s talk about the most obvious truth - the face, scalp, ears, and neck take in a lot of direct sun. We need to do what we can to deflect harmful UVA and UVB rays. 

This means incorporating two essentials into our routines: daily sunscreen (applied generously to the face, ears, neck, and chest) and protective headwear, such as a Wallaroo hat. Most wide‑brimmed Wallaroo hats are made with UPF 50+ sun protective fabric, and the wide brims help shield not just your forehead, but also your neck and ears, the spots we so often forget until they’re burned. These are the spots that a typical “ball cap” doesn't cover. 

We offer a wide selection of sun protection hats designed for a variety of outdoor activities. Regardless of what takes you to the great outdoors - fishing, golf, tennis, pickleball, city strolls, adventurous hikes, beach days, gardening, or watching your kids on the sidelines - there’s a hat that can protect you. The combination of a broad‑spectrum SPF sunscreen with a UPF‑rated, wide‑brim hat is your best line of defense. 

Use your Head

Now that we’ve got our heads covered, let’s put them to use by reviewing some common-sense, everyday sun safety practices. The Skin Cancer Foundation wants us to remember that it takes a comprehensive approach to prevent skin cancer and protect ourselves against harmful UV radiation. And, in addition to the risk for skin cancer, let’s not forget that too much sun exposure can cause premature aging, too. 

To stay on the defensive end against the battle to prevent skin cancer, below are some practical tips to keep in mind all year round:

Sunscreen Habits 365 Days a Year

●       Make SPF part of your routine: choose a broad‑spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (15+ for everyday).

●       Apply 30 minutes before you head out and reapply every two hours—don’t forget your face, even for quick errands or time in the car.

Eye and Face Protection

●       Don’t forget your eyes! Wear sunglasses that block 99–100% of UVA and UVB rays, even on cloudy days.

●       Top it off with a Wallaroo hat, designed with a wide brim and UPF fabric to give your face, ears, neck, and eyes extra love.

Clothing and Shade = A Winning Combo

●       When possible, choose sun‑protective clothing with a UPF of at least 30 (30–49 is great; 50+ is the gold standard).

●       Look for darker, tightly woven fabrics, an easy, loose fit, and plenty of coverage—and remember, clothes protect less when they’re wet.

●       Remember the shade is your friend - especially around water, snow, or sand, and during peak hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Northern Hemisphere).

Vitamin D

●       Get your Vitamin D from food and supplements, not from unprotected sun exposure or tanning beds (skip these altogether, please).

Skin Checks for Early Detection

●       Keep an eye on your skin: check it regularly and talk to your dermatologist about any new or changing spots so you can catch issues early.

The bottom line for skin protection? Exercise common sense. You don’t need to avoid the sun and stay inside… just do your best to protect yourself and your skin!

At Wallaroo Hat Company, we take sun protection seriously. We’ve made it our mission to offer fashion-forward sun hats that provide optimal sun protection and to spread the word about the importance of skin cancer prevention. Beyond our everyday focus on sun-protective headwear, we’re proud to give back in a variety of ways, including through our 1% Sun Protection Commitment program and our support of the Melanoma Research Foundation, the Skin Cancer Research Foundation, and the Colorado Melanoma Foundation, among others. Together, we can help eradicate skin cancer. 

Stay safe and protected, and remember…

It's a sunny life. Wear your hat.