September Is Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Here's Why It Matters to Your Family

At SUNSKIN, sun protection isn't just what we sell. It's the reason we exist. Our founders, Hanlie and André Burger, built this brand from the belief that every South African family deserves real, effective protection from the sun. So when September rolls around and the Skin Cancer Foundation South Africa (SCFSA) launches National Skin Cancer Awareness and Screening Month under the banner "One skin, one life," it's a message close to our hearts.

Skin cancer is more common than most South Africans realise

According to the National Cancer Registry (2024), skin cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in the country. The numbers, shared by SCFSA, tell the story clearly:

Men: 1 in 26 will develop basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 1 in 50 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 1 in 177 melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

Women: 1 in 48 will develop BCC, 1 in 109 SCC, and 1 in 296 melanoma.

Dr Sarina Drusinsky, a council member of the SCFSA, puts it plainly: an annual visit to a dermatologist is a must. As she notes, your skin can't tell you when something's wrong, that's why a professional needs to check.

Early detection saves lives

The good news is that most skin cancers are highly treatable when caught early. That's the whole point of Screening Month: giving South Africans an easy, often free, way to get checked before a small concern becomes a serious one.

How to protect your skin, every single day

The SCFSA's guidance lines up with what we've always believed at SUNSKIN: sunscreen is essential, but it works best as part of a bigger habit of sun-smart living:

• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30–50
• Reapply every two to three hours, especially if you're outdoors
• Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunglasses
• Seek shade and avoid direct sun between 10:00 and 15:00
• Check your own skin regularly for anything new or changing

It's worth remembering that up to 80% of visible skin ageing is caused by sun exposure, so the same daily habits that protect against skin cancer are also protecting the skin you'll have in ten, twenty, thirty years' time. This is why we make sun protection for every member of the family, from our Skin Kidz range for little ones aged 2 to 13, right through to daily SPF for the adults in the house.

Get involved this September

To find participating dermatologists and screening venues offering free skin checks this month, visit www.skincancerfoundation.org.za.

One skin, one life. Let's make sun protection a family habit that lasts far beyond September, because that's what the Ultimate Sun Care is all about.

Source: Skin Cancer Foundation South Africa (SCFSA) press statement, 1 September 2026.