MALIBU/SANTA MONICA—This summer UCLA Health has partnered with sunscreen company BrightGuard and non-profit organization IMPACT Melanoma to dispense free sunscreen to the public at Los Angeles-area beaches.
According to Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. It is estimated that the number of new melanoma cases diagnosed in 2019 will increase by 7.7 percent. In efforts to help protect citizens and visitors against skin cancer, the campaign is installing 50 kiosks dispensing free SPF 30 sunscreen.
The project will only be providing sunscreen with ingredients which the FDA has already determined safe and effective. The free mineral sunscreen distributed only contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
Local hospitality groups are working to promote healthy skin protection. Starting in November 2018, Santa Monica’s eco-friendly Shore Hotel started offering all guests free mineral-based natural sunscreen, in partnership with company Raw Elements.
Last year, the UCLA campaign managed to offer 77 gallons of sunscreen to passer byers and aim to administer more this summer in two of Los Angeles’ most visited beaches.
The kiosks offered along the Santa Monica and Malibu coast will remain until October 31.
