People 'ignoring sun protection'

23 August 2012 16:01

A third of respondents said they either never apply sunscreen, or rarely do so

A third of respondents said they either never apply sunscreen, or rarely do so

More than a quarter of people (29%) have admitted to not using any form of sun protection this summer, according to a new survey by research company Opinion Matters.

Despite the risk of skin damage, a third of respondents (34%) said they never apply sunscreen, or rarely do so, while nearly one in five (19%) consider sunburn to be a natural part of the tanning process.

Even though the weather has remained rather wet and cool this summer, over half of people (57%) claimed to have suffered from over-exposure to the sun. This left 33% with a pink or red colour to their skin, while 8% said their skin was painful to touch after long periods spent being out in the sun.

The poll of 1,766 people in the UK, sponsored by LEO Pharma, revealed that nearly three quarters (74%) had developed signs of sun damage on British soil rather than on their travels abroad.

Dr John Lear, consultant dermatologist at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, advised those soaking up the rays to be careful.

He said: "It's important to remember that it's not just in the summer months you should be thinking about your skin and sun damage. Ultra violet levels can be high and catch people unaware throughout the year."

Of course sunscreen isn't the only form of protection needed when heading abroad, with travel insurance another essential for all holidaymakers.

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