In Tyrol, being outdoors is part of everyday life. Cycling to work in the morning, going for a run along the Inn in the afternoon, heading into the mountains on weekends or spending time at the lake with family. Few regions combine urban life and outdoor culture as naturally as Tyrol. At the same time, one health risk is often underestimated precisely in these environments: UV radiation.

Starting this season, the State of Tyrol, the City of Innsbruck and Alpenzoo are introducing a simple and highly visible solution in public spaces: free, contactless sunscreen dispensers. The solar-powered stations make sun protection easily accessible and also display the temperature and UV index on integrated screens.

The idea behind the initiative is intentionally simple: sun protection should not only become a topic once skin is already burned, but should be available wherever people spend time outdoors. Similar to drinking fountains, bike racks or public sports facilities, sunscreen dispensers are becoming part of a modern outdoor infrastructure.

Sun protection is often forgotten during sports

UV radiation is especially easy to underestimate during exercise. People are moving, sweating and cooled down by the wind, which means they often only realize later how much sun exposure their skin has received. Even on mild or slightly cloudy days, UV radiation can still damage the skin. In addition, sweat, helmets, headbands, backpacks and clothing can rub sunscreen off the skin. Anyone spending extended periods outdoors should therefore not only apply sunscreen before heading out, but also reapply it regularly.

Sun protection is more than just a summer habit. Alongside regular skin checks, it is one of the most important measures for preventing skin damage and skin cancer. Areas that are especially often forgotten include the ears, neck, lips, hairline, backs of the hands and shoulders, even though these areas receive significant sun exposure during running and cycling. Sun protection is therefore not a beauty issue, but part of sports equipment.

“UV radiation places a significant and often underestimated strain on the skin. In mountainous regions especially, UV exposure is particularly intense. Sweat makes the skin more sensitive to UV radiation, while intensive physical activity can temporarily weaken the immune system. Both factors increase the risk of skin damage. Sun protection should therefore be just as essential as a water bottle or running shoes. Regular skin self-checks should also become just as routine as training itself,” explains Dr. Marina Wanner, resident physician at the University Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology in Innsbruck.

Making UV protection easier in everyday life

To coincide with the outdoor season, free contactless sunscreen dispensers have been installed at Marktplatz Innsbruck, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz and Alpenzoo. The technical partner behind the initiative is Sundo. The Belgian company develops and operates sunscreen dispensers for public spaces and is already present at more than 1,000 locations across eight European countries, with the goal of making UV protection an easier part of everyday life.

However, sun protection is not only about accessibility, but also about education and awareness. That is why sundo is working together with the Austrian organization Spot the Dot. The aim of the partnership is to combine free access to sunscreen with awareness around UV risks, skin cancer prevention and regular skin checks.

“I know how easy it is to underestimate the power of the sun and the danger of sunburn. Yet even a single sunburn can nearly double the later risk of melanoma. From my own experience, I know how profoundly a melanoma diagnosis can change a life. That is why it has now become my mission to encourage others: protect your skin, pay attention to changes and get regular skin checks. Prevention and early detection can make an enormous difference. Seeing a region like Tyrol bring this message visibly into everyday life is truly fantastic,” says Marije Kruis, founder of the international patient organization Spot the Dot and former melanoma patient.

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The ABCDE’s of Spotting Skin Cancer

This is the ABCDE method dermatologists use to recognize melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. If you notice one or more of the following signs, book in with a professional. ASAP.

A = Asymmetry: The two halves of the mole have different shapes.

B = Border: The edge of the mole is irregular. It may look blurred, ragged, or notched. Pigment may spread into the skin around the mole.

C = Colour: The colour of the mole is uneven. The mole may have different shades of tan, brown, and black, sometimes with blue, gray, red, pink, or white.

D = Diameter: While melanomas are usually greater than roughly 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide, about the size of a pencil eraser. When diagnosed, they can be smaller.

E = Evolving: The mole has changed in the past few weeks or months. It may be itchy, scaling or bleeding.

Photo by Aljaz Babnik. Copyright Vampire Surf Club

Presented by Vampire Surf Club in collaboration with Spot the Dot

Vampire Surf Club creates stylish sun protection for surfers who know covering up is the ultimate power move. Each piece is cut with intention, tested in the lineup, and crafted to balance style, performance, and durability. Vampires don’t sunbathe, but we do surf. www.vampiresurfclub.com
Instagram: @ vampiresurfclub

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Surfers spend long hours in intense sun exposure, making skin cancer awareness especially relevant. Together, we developed a compact ABCDE guide for self skin checks, created specifically for the surf community, practical, accessible, and easy to share among surf buddies.

As part of this collaboration, Spot the Dot founder Marije Kruis wrote a personal article for Vampire Surf Club, connecting lived experience with education and prevention.

Read the full article Spot the Dot: A Surfer’s Guide to Skin Cancer Checks, here: 
https://vampiresurfclub.com/blogs/news/spot-the-dot-a-surfer-s-guide-to-skin-cancer-checks

Download the ABCDE guide as a PDF here

More interesting reads:
Cold Water, Warm Advice: a conversation with Dr. Sissy Waschkowski 
Beyond Sunscreen: A Dermatologist’s Guide to Sun Protection for Surfers

This project is part of Spot the Dot’s mission to bring skin cancer awareness into real-life communities and cultures. More to come.

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When the Music is Loud, the Message Should Be Too?

Sonic Blast is no ordinary beach festival. Its lineup pulses with stoner rock, post-punk, synth, and doom genres known for their raw energy and immersive sound. The visuals are bold, the crowd embraces edge, and the vibe demands an equally fearless approach. Spot the Dot rose to the challenge.

Instead of quiet reminders, the team went all in with a statement impossible to ignore: “Fuck the Sun.” The phrase appeared across merchandise, flyers, stickers, fans, and temporary tattoos. The design wasn’t intended as pure provocation—it was carefully crafted to harmonize with the festival’s aesthetic while driving home an urgent sun-safety message.

The impact was instant. Festivalgoers smiled, sparked conversations, and shared genuine moments of connection over the bold campaign. It wasn’t just about getting attention; it was about delivering life-saving advice in a way that resonated with the environment and its audience.

This campaign is the latest chapter in Spot the Dot’s 10-year journey to raise awareness about skin cancer—through everything from art exhibitions and street murals to educational talks and collaborative, unconventional projects.

The takeaway? Awareness doesn’t always have to whisper. Sometimes, the most powerful messages are the ones shouted over the music. Spot the Dot proves that when you dare to be loud, bold, and a little unexpected, you can make an impact that lasts long after the final encore.

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About us
Marije Kruis (Vienna/Amsterdam) – founder of Spot the Dot, internationally awarded for creative health and awareness campaigns in more than 13 countries. Check: www.marijekruis.com | www.linkedin.com/in/marijekruis

Masja Annoesjka Ros (Amsterdam) – years of communication work for Stichting Melanoom (Melanoma Foundation). Concept and content creator with a big heart for activation and awareness campaigns for non-profits. Check: www.masja-ros.com

Our philosophy
We believe in patient participation as the key to effective communication for health themes and national awareness campaigns. Where large agencies sometimes miss opportunities, we bring together experiential knowledge, creativity, and a strong network of professionals.

Our mission
To create communication that resonates, connects, and moves people to action, instead of just informing.

What we do
Whether you are on the board of a patient organization, work in healthcare, or work in the public sector or for an NGO, we can:
– Contribute ideas at a high strategic level
– Develop concepts that make an impact
– Create content in word and image (text, website, animation, video, social)
– Project management and production
– Roll out (inter)national campaigns
– Facilitate sparring or brainstorming sessions

Curious? Let’s talk! Drop us a line via contact@spotthedot.org

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Check a Mole

In skin cancer prevention, along with protection from harmful UV rays and an annual examination by a dermatologist, monthly self-examination is essential. This involves evaluating each mole and spot according to the ABCDE rule. We’ll explain what each letter stands for on the adjacent page. Our free online game, Check a Mole helps you internalize the ABCDE rule in a playful way. Spot suspicious moles as quickly as possible, earn points, and secure your spot on the high score list!

For free

Check a Mole is completely free and can be played on any device with internet access. Open www.spotthedot.org/game in your web browser. You can start playing immediately – no download or registration required!

The ABCDE Rule

Melanomas have typical features that make them quite recognizable. In particular, distinguishing between melanoma and a mole is relevant. We hope that the ABCDE rules we provide will help you examine your skin from head to toe every month. Self-checks do not replace annual skin examinations by a doctor, but they offer the best opportunity to detect early signs of skin cancer. If you notice changes in a mole or discover a new one that looks suspicious, see a doctor.

When examining the skin, it’s important to assess every spot, mole, and scaly dry patch according to specific criteria. It’s best to follow the ABCDE rule. These characteristics are used by dermatologists to classify melanomas of the skin. Look for these signs: Asymmetry, irregular Borders, more than one or uneven distribution of Color, or a large (greater than 6mm) Diameter. Finally, pay attention to the Evolution of your moles – know what’s normal for your skin and check it regularly for changes. Besides learning more in our game, here is a video that might help you to know what to look out for when you check your skin:

Game on

Ready to play? Go to www.spotthedot.org/game

Supported by MSD

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Die Allianz onkologischer Patient:innenorganisationen, is a collective of patient organizations and advocates focused on oncology. With their extensive expertise and network, they aim to establish interest-driven patient representation and to give patient advocacy a long-needed place in Austria. We’re excited about this collaboration and look forward to making a positive impact together.

Learn more via www.dieallianz.org

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How it works:
1. Preorder is open from now until October 22

2. We print only 30 decks in total, do not wait too long to place your order!

3. These items won’t be available after preorder has closed

4. We produce all items by hand in The Netherlands and ship all preorders in November, 2023

*Please note: we currently only ship to EU countries. If you want to pick up a deck in Amsterdam, Nieuwkoop (NL) or Vienna (AT) to avoid shipping costs, please send us a message and we see what we can do.

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