A survey conducted in 17 countries in Europe and Asia showed that most respondents mistakenly thought sunburn was beneficial and neglected sunscreen. The authors reported the work at the 31st Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases.
A survey of 17,000 people from 17 countries, including 6,000 from the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Russia, showed the prevalence of myths about “healthy tanning” and sun protection, despite decades of campaigns to raise awareness of carcinogenicity. from ultraviolet radiation. 8 out of 10 Europeans find the tan attractive and almost the same number (73%) say that tanning is good for their health.
Respondents from countries outside of Europe, including North and South America, Africa, Oceania, and Asia, were less enthusiastic about tanning, with 67 percent saying tanning was attractive and 59 percent saying tanning was healthy.
Many believe that sun protection is not necessary on cloudy days: 56% of Europeans and 64% of non-Europeans. Around a quarter of respondents in all countries believe that UV protection is not needed if they are already tanned.
Ignorance is also reflected in sunscreen use: only 10% of Europeans and 14% of non-European respondents reported using any form of sun protection, including regular or frequent sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a hat and protective protection. clothing all year round. .
According to recent estimates, approximately 1.7% of the adult population in Europe (about 7.3 million people) suffers from skin cancer. UV exposure is responsible for more than 80% of the visible signs of photoaging. The authors emphasized that sunscreen should be used all year round and even on cloudy days. After applying sunscreen, it should be reapplied every 2 hours to ensure adequate protection.