This is the coolest hat. I can wear this huge hat and it’s like a sun umbrella over my head. It’s also officially rated with UPF 50+, excellent for UV protection. I found this one at Ann Arbor’s Downtown Home and Garden on Ashley Street. There is only one left like this, so if you like it you better hurry.

They have quite a selection of other very large brimmed hats if you don’t like this one. This hat keeps the sun off your face, neck and shoulders. The only problem with it is that on windy days it gets a lot of lift and would probably blow off if you didn’t keep a hand on it. I think I’ll devise a tie to keep it on.

Did you know that about one million non-melanoma skin cancer cases develop each year in the US. The best way to lower your risks of skin cancer is to avoid the sun. Here’s the list from cancer.org.

Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Seek shade: Look for shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest. Practice the shadow rule and teach it to children. If your shadow is shorter than you, the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

Slip on a shirt: Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun.

Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.
 
Slop on sunscreen: Use sunscreen and lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply a generous amount of sunscreen (about a palmful) and reapply after swimming, toweling dry, or perspiring. Use sunscreen even on hazy or overcast days.

Slap on a hat: Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.

Wrap on sunglasses: Wear sunglasses with 99% to 100% UV absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.

Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.

Avoid other sources of UV light. Tanning beds and sun lamps are dangerous because they can damage your skin.

Get a huge sun hat from Ann Arbor’s Downtown Home and Garden.  That’s my recommendation.

 

To find other Ann Arbor Garden Stores look in the Directory of Ann Arbor MI http://directoyrofannarbormi.com