ShowMe South Africa

You can feel summer is here, and the festivities around the year-end holidays and coming new year are almost within reach.

It’s a time when we head outdoors with friends and loved ones, and it is easy to get caught up in the freedom of the holidays and forget to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful rays.

CANSA has made things a lot easier for you by giving its Seal of Approval to sun protection products and sun gear that protect against sun exposure that could lead to cancer.

Familiarise yourself with brands that have had their products independently, clinically tested to determine whether they adhere to international sun protection standards, to bear CANSA’s Seal.

UV Garments / Sun Gear Products
Sunscreen Products

Our sun protection products include suncare products, lipcare products, sunscreens, UV protective clothing and swimwear for children, UV protective arm sleeves, headwear, hats and umbrellas.

Why Sunscreen is Important

(credit: Kevin P. Boyd TED-ED)

Sun Protection Tips

1. It is especially important to protect the most vulnerable, our children, teens and young adults as two blistering sunburns before the age of 18 years, can lead to cancer in later life. Read our fact sheet…
2. Infants younger than six months old should not be exposed to the sun.
3. Ensure you have educated your older kids on the importance of wearing sun protection regardless of their skin tone, as it is a misconception that only people with a fair skin tone need to apply sun protective measures.
4. Ensure that they apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors and regularly reapply sun protection products as instructed to benefit fully. Towel drying, swimming and perspiring can cause the product to come off.
5. Dispose of sun protection products older than two years, as their efficacy is no longer guaranteed two years after manufacture.
6. Know the best Sun Protection Factor (SPF) for your and your children’s skin tone – generally if the skin tone is paler, the higher the SPF needed to avoid sunburn. It is recommended that products have an SPF of between 30 and 50, and that people with fair to very fair skin use products with the highest SPF.
7. Other ways to protect your skin include wearing UV protective clothing, swimsuits and thickly-woven fabric hats with wide brims – avoid caps where the neck and ears are exposed.
8. Don’t forget to protect your eyes – wear sunglasses with a UV protection rating of UV400.
9. Avoid being outdoors when UV rays are harshest, from 10:00 to 16:00 and be aware that even if you are sitting in a shaded area, you still need to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from reflected UV rays off cement, water, etc.

What does the CANSA Seal of Recognition Guarantee?

Do Other Types of Products Bear CANSA’s Seal?

Yes, besides the Protection category of products, there is an Edible, non-Edible, Patient Care and Physical Activity category of Seal approved products:

Edible Consumer Goods
Non-Edible Consumer Goods
Patient Care
Physical Activity

CANSA is looking to grow our Seal partnerships – if you would like to submit your product for approval, please apply below:

Or if you have any queries, please contact Kudzai Nyaruve (CANSA Seal of Recognition Manager) email: cansaseal@cansa.org.za

Follow our CANSA on the Couch Podcast to hear about our latest Seal of Recognition partners and how to lower personal cancer risk.