(How To Stay Safe While Gaining) Every Other Freckle!

Good afternoon, Charlotte!

With our couple hours of clearly visible sunlight finally breaking through after these few rain-soaked days, we figured it was only appropriate to make a sun safety post with summer just around the corner and our having already felt some pretty warm temperatures here in the Queen City!

One of the niftiest videos (from 34 years ago, as fate would have it) regarding sun safety was put out by the Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign in Australia. As this article in the Sunshine Coast Daily reports, Australia has the highest percentage of skin cancer cases in the world, with the number of cases there having risen by 60 percent from 1982 (immediately after the start of the Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign) to 2010.

Enjoy the original ad from 1981 below:

The Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign's message was simple: slip on a tee shirt, slop on some sunscreen, and slap on a hat to gain protection. Since 1981, they have added to seek shade and slide on some sunglasses.

And not necessarily this type of shade.

Regardless, the Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign's message still rings clearly. It's always smart to cover skin if able, add sunscreen to whatever remains exposed, use a hat and sunglasses to protect our skin and eyes, and seek shade when able to cut down on exposure to UVA and UVB rays. But, if you're like me and Molly, you probably want to know a little more about the science behind and effects of sun exposure, so we have some pretty exciting resources below:

This basic guide from the EPA has some action steps for sun protection, with an explanation of the UV index. 

This guide, also from the EPA, has some in-depth information on the differences between UVA and UVB rays, as well as some advice for effective sunscreen application and how sunlight adversely affects sensitive populations.

The CDC also has some recommendations regarding sun safety, including information on checking the expiration date and using sun protection with cosmetics, found here.

The American Cancer Society has a wealth of information on sun safety, including an image gallery helping you know what to look for in suspicious sections of skin.

And, to see the new Sun Smart campaign's website (the creators of Slip! Slop! Slap! back in 1981), click here and see what all they have going today!

And since you know we have to add a crazy jam, and because the Madison Square Garden show was amazing back on March 30 and I'm not sure if life has been the same since, here's some alt-J for your afternoon!

Stay safe, Charlotte!