A Skin-Saving Sunscreen Campaign
UV rays are invisible. Their damage is not.
Did you know that it takes only five sunburns to double your risk of developing melanoma later in life? Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, the most common cancer in both the United States and Ohio. There are several types of skin cancer, but the most dangerous is melanoma, which can spread quickly and become life-threatening if not caught early. Melanoma does not discriminate. People of all skin tones can develop skin cancer, including in less pigmented areas such as the palms, soles, and under the nails.
Northeast Ohio has the highest melanoma incidence and mortality rates in the nation! That’s why Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) is working with Lorain County Metro Parks, the City of Lorain, and the municipalities of Parma, Strongsville, Mayfield Village, Euclid, and Westlake to raise awareness and prevent skin cancer before it starts.
Thanks to our partners—your city and L'Oréal/La Roche-Posay—free-standing sunscreen dispensers and kiosks with FDA-approved SPF 30 or higher broad-spectrum sunscreen will be in recreation areas across these communities this summer. The goal? To make sun protection easy, accessible, and part of your daily routine.
Sunscreen is more than a summertime essential—it’s a critical tool in protecting your skin year-round. When UV rays penetrate your skin, they damage the DNA in skin cells. Over time, that damage can lead to mutations and skin cancers, including melanoma. Using sunscreen regularly helps prevent this chain reaction before it begins.
But prevention is only part of the story. To truly reduce melanoma rates, we need to understand why they’re so high in our region. That’s why we’re also asking for your help. By completing a brief voluntary survey, which you will find by scanning a QR code on the kiosks and dispensers, you’ll contribute to important research that could lead to better strategies for early detection, education, and prevention.
Together, we can shine a light on UV safety and protect the health of our communities.
Stop the burn. Share the knowledge. And help us stop skin cancer before it starts.
Who is Case CCC?
Since 1985, Case CCC has supported the cancer research efforts of the three largest biomedical organizations in the region: Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and Cleveland Clinic. While the benefits of our research are felt worldwide, our main commitment is to our catchment area—15 northeast Ohio counties and the 4 million people who live there. Our researchers conduct amazing science, including work on skin cancer prevention and treatment. Our goal is to prevent, treat, and cure cancer.