It’s not easy to get guys into the sunscreen habit – according to new research from Canstar Blue, only eight per cent of men wear sunscreen daily.
What’s also worrying is that 63 per cent of Kiwi men haven’t had their skin checked by a specialist in the past five years, despite the fact that male death rates from melanoma seem to be on the rise.
Women are more diligent about daily sunscreen use (26 per cent comply), but just as negligent about skin checks.
The survey also showed a difference between younger and older New Zealanders – Gen Y were the most cavalier about wearing sunscreen on hot, sunny days and weren’t very concerned about future damage. On the other hand, baby boomers reported the most worries when it came to the consequences of sun exposure.
With summer on its way, The Melanoma Foundation says that sun protection is vitals and recommends the following, from September to April:
* Wear a broad brimmed hat
* Wear clothes made of densely woven fabric to cover arms, legs and body
* Wear wrap-around sunglasses
* Seek shade
* Use sunscreen. Apply broad spectrum SPF30+ sunscreen liberally 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours
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