Each year, the arrival of sunny days is synonymous with extended outdoor outings … and increased exposure to the sun. To alert UV risks, the Yellow June campaign stands out as a key meeting for solar prevention. Like pink October for breast cancer, yellow June mobilizes citizens and health professionals to establish simple but essential gestures.
A campaign born in Franche-Comté and now national
Under the impetus of Dr. Hervé Van Landuyt, dermatologist for a long time committed to Besançon, the Yellow campaign was born in 2023. Initiated by ASFODER (association of dermatologists of Franche-Comté) and a Fleur de Skin, it aims to inform about the dangers of an excessive sun exposure. If its initial anchoring is regional, the campaign now extends nationally.
Why June? Because this month marks the significant extension of the days, and therefore an increased risk of exposure to UV rays. It is precisely at this strategic moment that awareness -raising must intensify, in order to encourage responsible behavior before the summer peaks in July and August.
Prevention rather than cure: good reflexes to adopt
Faced with alarming figures – up to 243,500 cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year in France, 85 % of which are UV – Yellow June insists on prevention. The campaign offers 6 golden rules to adopt on a daily basis:
- Wear covering clothes;
- Protect your head with a hat;
- Put sunglasses;
- Seek shadow as soon as possible;
- Avoid exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
- Apply a suitable sunscreen.
And vigilance does not stop in the summer or at the beach. Children, outdoor workers, athletes or those evolving in the mountains must redouble their prudence. In any season, UVs can damage the skin, even in cloudy or cold weather.
New set Playmobil: learn to protect yourself from the sun while having fun!
With this brand new set Playmobil, solar prevention becomes child’s play! The male character included has an astonishing particularity: it becomes red when exposed to UV rays. A fun and educational way to show the youngest the effects of the sun on unprotected skin. This smart toy helps children understand the importance of putting sunscreen regularly, whether before sunbathing or after swimming. A great idea to raise awareness … while having fun at the beach or at home!
To protect yourself is also to monitor your skin
In addition to prevention gestures, Yellow June calls for regular skin self-monitoring. Any lesion that bleeds, does not heal, or any grain of beauty that evolves quickly must alert. The ABCDE rule (asymmetry, edges, color, diameter, evolution) is a simple but crucial reading grid.