Free sunscreen dispensers in public spaces are making UV protection available exactly where people often forget it: while exercising and on the go in the city.

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.