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South Australian youths are not getting the SunSmart message, with a recent survey revealing that only seven percent are practicing the three key SunSmart behaviours (slip, slop, slap). Alarmingly, the majority of youths admit they prefer to be tanned.*

The data has been released to coincide with National Skin Cancer Action Week (15 – 21 November) which helps to raise awareness of skin cancer and sun protection issues at the start of the summer each year.

Chief Executive, Cancer Council SA, Professor Brenda Wilson, said that it is concerning that so few adolescents are adequately protecting their skin, but more concerning is the fact that the number of those that are doing the right thing is gradually declining over time.

“Not only are we not seeing any improvements in adolescents adopting SunSmart measures, but we’re actually seeing a gradual decline in skin protection behaviours within this group,” said Professor Wilson.

“One possible reason for the lack of skin protection among adolescents is that almost 70 per cent say they prefer to be tanned.”

“Tanning is an incredibly dangerous practice and over 75 per cent of youths admit that they were sunburnt during the previous summer, which puts them at serious risk of skin cancer,” said Professor Wilson.

The study also revealed that students are receiving less education about safe sun practices when compared to six years ago.

“In 2002, 81 per cent of students reported having had at least part of a school lesson about skin cancer or sun protection, which compares with only 76 per cent of students last year,” said Professor Brenda Wilson.

“Its no coincidence that the level of education about skin protection provided to students is declining as are SunSmart behaviours.”

“Education is crucial to improving sun protective behaviours within all groups of the population, especially in children and adolescents,” she said.

Australasian College of Dermatologists Honorary Secretary, Dr Cathy Reid, said skin cancer in young people was more common than thought. “We regularly see patients in their twenties, some of whom have to undergo disfiguring treatments."

Cancer Council launched a new skin awareness campaign this week ‘don’t be a victim’ that graphically depicts the dangers of tanning.

The awareness campaign seeks to gain traction with younger Australians and features an edgy 30 second television commercial starring actress Nicole da Silva (of RUSH fame), as a crime scene
detective following a case on Bondi Beach.

“More needs to be done to educate younger Australians about the dangers of getting sunburnt,” said Professor Wilson. “We hope this campaign will help get the message to sink in that a tan just isn’t worth the risk.”

Ends

Key findings of the research:

- 68 per cent of school students aged 12 to 17 years reported they liked having some degree of tan

- In 2008, 76 per cent of adolescents reported having at least part of a lesson about skin cancer, compared to 81 per cent in 2002

- 90 per cent of students understand that most skin cancer is caused by UV rays from the sun

- The proportion of adolescents who reported they ‘usually’ or ‘always’ employed the three key sun protection behaviours (hat, sunscreen and protective clothing) decreased from 9.4 per cent in 2002 to 7 per cent in 2008

- 76 per cent of adolescents reported getting burnt last summer which has remained stable since 2002

- The number of adolescents who reported ever having been severely sunburnt decreased significantly from 2002 (38 per cent) to 31 per cent in 2008.



*Survey was of school students aged 12 to 17 years.