Every year, dermatologists warn about the dangers of the sun and the need to protect oneself from it. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has just published a study on the sun exposure behavior of 18-25 year olds. Conclusion: the fundamentals are far from being acquired.
To conduct the study, the AAD surveyed 1,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 25.
According to the survey, a large proportion of Generation Z respondents are unaware that tanning is harmful to the skin. Sixty percent of respondents said they have exposed themselves in the past year, and 27 percent believe tanning decreases the risk of skin cancers. “On the other hand, 38% say that tanning is safe as long as you don’t burn yourself,” the AAD adds.
Focus on sun protection
Respondents believe that:
• SPF 30 offers twice the protection of SPF 15 (54%)
• It is not possible to get sunburned on a cloudy day (49%)
• High SPF can be applied less often (39%)
• There is no need to reapply cream at least every two hours when exposed to the sun (23%)
But Generation Z readily admits its shortcomings. 53% of those surveyed said they regret their past behavior. In fact, 22% of those surveyed now see signs of sun damage.
“It’s frustrating that people still think tanning is good for you,” said AAD member Dr. Craiglow. “It is essential to protect yourself as early as possible to avoid premature skin aging and …
