Young Australians believe they are too young to have a skin check
Almost 2,000 Australians lose their lives to skin cancer each year, however adults in their 20s and 30s are ignoring their important skin checks for a dangerously common reason.
Health
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A dangerously high number of Australian adults in their 20s and 30s believe they are too young to need to bother with a skin check, despite melanoma being the most common cancer in this age group.
A new survey by the Skin Health Institute, a non-profit research and treatment centre in Melbourne, has found that many Australians rate skin checks as less important than a visit to the GP, dentist, blood test or eye check.
The online Save Our Skin survey of 1000 Australians found one in 12 adults will make a skin check a priority when planning their annual health routine, with one in three saying the perceived cost of a dermatologist puts them off.
Gen X – those aged 39-54 years – were twice as likely as Millennials – those aged 25-38 years – to prioritise a skin check.
The survey also revealed that more than one in seven adults rely on a self-check or getting their partner to look them over, instead of seeing a doctor.
Institute chief Caroline Mulcahy said given a third of Aussies planned to tan this summer and more than three million adults got sunburnt at least three times a year, the sun smart message needed to be taken more seriously.
“The physical consequences of sunburn can be very serious, and so we really need Australians to change their behaviour now,” Ms Mulcahy said.
“Over 400,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer, and tragically over 1800 lose their lives to the disease every year.
“Everyone should be getting their skin checked at least once a year.”
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Ms Mulcahy said key health messages this summer including checking the use by date of sunscreen before use, using sun protection when the UV index was three or over, and realising that all skin tones can get skin cancer.