84% of dermatologists think that Brits have an unhealthy relationship with tanning

84% of dermatologists think that people in the UK have an unhealthy relationship with tanning, according to a snapshot survey by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). 

The survey also showed that 63% of UK dermatologists believe that tans won’t go out of fashion within their lifetime. Two-thirds of dermatologists (66%) felt that their patients had a better understanding of the link between UV exposure and skin cancer than between UV exposure and skin ageing. However, one-third (34%) felt that people who tan excessively are more likely to change their behaviour in response to warnings about skin ageing than about skin cancer, while only 10% thought that the inverse was true. The remainder felt that both carried equal weight, or neither was influential. 

As part of this new public health messaging campaign the BAD is launching The “Don’t Bake Bake”, encouraging people to bake cakes, instead of their skin. The bake has been set up to help educate the public on best sun safety practices and how to spot the warning signs of skin cancer early, with take-home information available at every event venue. It was also set up to help raise funds for the BAD’s public-facing skin disease prevention initiatives.