Survey finds Brits are dying for a tan
A survey of 1,270 Brits by SunSense UK has shown that many people are still putting themselves at risk of skin cancer in the bid to get a tan.
The report showed that 70% mistakenly believe that there is a safe way to achieve a natural tan and 60% would still sunbathe despite the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing. It also revealed that more than half of people believe it is safer to build a base tan before going on holiday while 10% said tanning beds are a safe way to tan.
Despite being told that exposure to UV rays is a major cause of skin cancer, the survey also found that nearly two thirds would overlook the long-term health risks for the sake of a sun-kissed appearance, however, 70% changed their tanning attitude upon seeing hidden skin damage under an ultraviolet camera. 25% said that they would now avoid unnecessary sun exposure and 45% said that they might still sunbathe, but would use a higher factor sunscreen to protect their skin.
Dr Kerryn Greive PhD, Scientific Affairs Manager for SunSense comments: "There is no such thing as a healthy tan, but having one makes us feel good. Unfortunately, exposure to UV radiation from the sun and other sources, including sun beds, is a major cause of skin cancer.
"Despite this, it is difficult to get people to understand how bad a tan can be. A lot of people don't believe that the sun is strong enough in the UK to do any real damage and even if they do, they consider skin cancer as something that happens to other people, or something that may happen in the future. But it's the tan we are getting today that may cause skin cancer.
"Australia may be known as the skin cancer capital of the world, but it is also the first country in the world to see a reduction in skin cancer rates. This follows 30 years of public health campaigns which shows that if you are consistent with the message, you will see the benefit to people's health.
"Skin cancer is also a serious problem in the UK and we believe that there is a lot that the UK can learn from Australia. We hope that the Dying for a Tan tour has helped to get the message across and provide the British public with the facts they need to make an informed decision about their health."
