With skin cancer now being the most common cancer in Ireland, La Roche-Posay looked to the US to understand what that means to society.
Shockingly, a study by the American Academy of Dermatology has revealed that using sun protection to prevent skin cancers comes second to people wanting to prevent premature aging.
According to the research, teenagers felt more compelled to apply sunscreen if they saw a video showing that it could protect their skin from premature aging, than if they saw that it could protect against cancer.
With sun protection being one of the most effective ways to prevent skin cancer, La Roche-Posay has a dedicated Anthelios sun care range that offers dermatological protection for sensitive and sun allergic skin with the highest PPD and SPF across their range and a variety of textures to suit all skin types.
Not only does the Anthelios range offer a uniform filter distribution for optimal protection and excellent filter stability for lasting protection, it is also ultra water resistant, even after 4 swims, and is enriched with Thermal Spring Water, to soothe and provide anti-oxidant properties.
Unfortunately, Irish attitudes to the sun and skin cancer are not too far from those in America. In fact, nearly all of the Irish adults surveyed don’t actually know the difference between UVA and UVB rays and when asked about moles, over half said that they do not have any moles at all - this is in direct conflict with the fact that the average number of moles in people with white skin is 30 but some people may have as many as 400.
Nearly all types of skin cancers are curable if detected early so it is important to be vigilant about monitoring moles, looking for new lumps and growth or changes in existing moles.
Increasing awareness and changing behaviours will save lives.
