UV Safety Awareness Month: Small Habits That Protect Your Skin

What this observance is

Every July, UV Safety Awareness Month reminds people to protect their skin and eyes from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. July makes sense as the focus month: in much of the northern hemisphere, UV levels are at their annual peak. Health organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology promote sun-safe habits during this time. The message is simple and doable — small, consistent habits meaningfully reduce UV-related skin damage.

Why UV radiation matters

According to the National Cancer Institute, the sun, sunlamps, and tanning booths all give off ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to UV radiation causes early aging of the skin and damage that can lead to skin cancer. NCI notes that UV rays are strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., can pass through light clothing, windshields, windows, and clouds, and are reflected by sand, water, snow, ice, and pavement — which is why protection matters even on cloudy days or near reflective surfaces.

NCI is also clear that skin cancer can affect people of all skin tones. While skin cancer is more common among people with lighter skin, NCI emphasizes that people of all skin tones can develop it, including those with dark skin.

What NCI recommends

NCI offers straightforward, practical sun-safety guidance. It advises people of all ages and skin tones to limit time in the sun, especially between mid-morning and late afternoon, and to avoid other UV sources such as tanning beds. Specific NCI tips include:

• Wear a hat with a wide brim all around that shades the face, neck, and ears.
• Wear sunglasses that block UV radiation.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants; tightly woven, dark fabrics offer more protection.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 (some doctors suggest at least 30), applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

You can find more detail on our sun safety page. And if you want to think through which cancer screenings apply to you more broadly, our free screening check-up tool is a gentle place to begin.

How to take part

• Build sun protection into daily summer routines — hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, shade.
• Avoid tanning beds; NCI groups them with other avoidable UV sources.
• Remember that reflective surfaces and cloudy days still allow UV exposure.
• Share sun-safety habits with children, whose skin benefits from protection early.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• What sun-protection habits make the most sense for my skin and lifestyle?
• Should I be checking my skin for changes, and what should I look for?
• Do I have risk factors that make sun protection especially important?
• When should I have a spot or mole looked at by a professional?