Okay people: What part of SUN DAMAGE CAUSES MELANOMA do you not understand? It seems we need to amp up our message!
In the last month there has been a number of articles revealing young people among Gen Z and Gen Alpha do not think they need sun protection and are in denial of the true melanoma risk they face from UV exposure. Even worse, they are buying into crazy false statements on Tik Tok that would be funny if not so incredibly dangerous!
An online survey of more than 1,000 people, the American Academy of Dermatology found 28 per cent of 18-26 year olds did not believe suntans could cause skin cancer. Another 37% said they would only wear sunscreen when others nagged them about it.
A separate poll conducted by the Orlando Health Cancer Institute found 14% of adults under 35 years bought into the myth that wearing sunscreen daily does more harm to your skin than unprotected sun exposure.
And the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 8% of men and 26% women younger than 30 say they always use sunscreen when outside in the sun for at least an hour.
As for crazy town – here are some of the more insane Tik Tok comments made by untrained, idiotic influencers. Let’s say this again – THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!
- “Sunscreen blocks vitamin D production.” ABSOLUTELY NOT! Science proves otherwise. And, you only need 15 minutes a day in the sun to soak in all the Vitamin D you need. Bam!
- “As long as you have a good tan you don’t need sunscreen.” WHAT??? A sun tan indicates your skin is already being damaged by the sun. Darker tones to your skin offer ABSOLUTELY NO PROTECTION.
- “The more time you spend outside the less likely you are to get sunburned.” HELL NO! That just raises your risk! You can ONLY prevent sunburn through the use of sunscreen, the wearing of UPF 50 clothing and supplements such as Heliocare which help boost UV resistance.
Social media platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram are entertaining and can offer solid information from the right sources. But when it comes to your health – ignore influencers who are just trying to get clicks. They are dangerous. Listen to medical professionals – and get your skin screened every year – sooner if you see any sort of change.
Take care of you. Take care of your skin. And Live Life Like Claire