How are the French doing with their perceptions and knowledge of the hazards related to sun exposure? Do they know everything they need to? Have received ideas persisted? According to a recent survey, despite repeated awareness campaigns over the past few years, there is still a considerable lack of knowledge, and it leads to risky behaviours when it comes to sun exposure.
This survey was conducted by Laboratoires de Biarritz among over 300 French people who have at least one child under 18, and who have recently bought a sunscreen. The results are surprising, even worrying. Indeed, if 97% of respondents consider sun protection an important issue, and 65% feel they are well-informed, misconceptions have actually persisted, and they can prevent the French from adopting all the precautions needed when they expose themselves to the sun.
An important issue the French do not know that much about
• One French person out of two thinks childhood sunburns have no implications during adulthood if they are well-treated.
The right message
Getting sunburnt during childhood considerably reduces your ‘sun resistance’ (your defences against the harmful effects of the sun, which you acquire at birth and cannot be renewed). When you reach adulthood, you defend yourself less efficiently, and the risk of skin cancer increases.
• 1 French person out of 3 thinks sunburns make the skin less vulnerable to the sun.
The right message
The more you get sunburnt, the more your sun resistance is reduced, and the less your skin can defend itself properly.
• 1 French person out of 3 thinks they …
