By keeping the air circulating, a well-ventilated sun hat can help prevent sweat, itchiness, or chafing in areas prone to perspiration like the crown, scalp, and forehead — even while in extreme heat. When selecting a breathable sun hat, be sure its material and construction is still well-suited for those super sunny days. If the hat is too porous and allows significant light leakage, it probably doesn’t have an appropriate UPF either. What can we take away from all that? Here's the most important advice to protect yourself from the sun:

When deciding on the best sun hat for you, don’t feel like you need to totally break the bank. No matter the price, a proper sun hat should be durably made, have a 30+ UPF and be comfortable enough to wear during activities throughout the day. Sun hats are great for outings at the local park during the summer; (photo/Meghan LaHatte) Experts recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and a UVA rating of four or five stars. More than 100,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in the UK, and while the disease can also occur on parts of the body not exposed to sunlight, extensive sun exposure is thought to be responsible for the vast majority of cases,” says the British Association of Dermatologists. “In more than four out of five cases skin cancer is a preventable disease.”

Sunscreens and how to use them

Get tips on preventing and treating heat exhaustion in hot weather Who should take extra care in the sun?

Seek medical help if you feel unwell or the skin swells badly or blisters. Stay out of the sun until all signs of redness have gone. Lightweight and long-sleeved shirts and pants. It’s important to cover up as much of your skin as possible when spending time outdoors. When selecting clothing, avoid fabrics with a loose or open weave, such as lace. In addition, dark colors offer more protection than light colors. For example, a long-sleeved denim shirt provides an SPF of about 1,700, while a white t-shirt provides an SPF of about 7. In addition, if you’re at the beach or pool, keep in mind that dry clothing offers more sun protection than wet clothing. For more effective sun protection, select clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label.Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer. Dermatologist-approved lesson plans, activities you can use Regular maintenance and storage: Whenever you’re done with your hat for the day, it’s always good to shake or brush off any dirt that may have built up while using it. Make sure to store it in a cool, dry place where it isn’t folded or bunched up. It’s best to keep it out of direct sunlight so the fabric doesn’t fade or the UPF isn’t lessened. We also recommend undoing any of the adjustment toggles or chords so they retain their original shape.