The sun is the main cause of skin cancer in France, favoring in particular the appearance of melanoma.
- According to a survey by the Federation of Beauty Companies, in partnership with OpinionWay, one in five vacationers does not protect their skin enough against the sun.
- Since 1983, the number of skin cancers has multiplied by 2.5, in particular due to exposure to the sun without adequate protection.
- To avoid mistreating your skin in the sun, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen every hour and avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day.
At the time of the summer holidays, it is clear that the French still do not protect themselves enough from the sun. According to a new survey*, more than 20% of holidaymakers do not use any sunscreen on the beach, and 28% “sometimes” (ie only once or twice a day). In the city, this figure climbs to 53%, even peaking at 63% among men.
Men neglect their skin in the face of the sun
Very bad reflexes therefore, when we know that the sun is the main cause of skin cancer in France, favoring in particular the appearance of melanoma. “Exposure to the sun without suitable protection is dangerous for your health. One in three cancers diagnosed worldwide is skin cancer. And the increase in skin cancers is striking: they have multiplied by 2.5 since 1983”recalls Françoise Audebert, scientific advisor to the FEBEA (Federation of Beauty Companies).
She continues: “In town, the intensity of UV rays is the same as on the beach. Sun damage is caused by UV rays, which do not cause you to feel hot. Pollution accentuates the harmful effects of UV rays on the skin. It is therefore important to use sun protection in the city as soon as the fine weather appears.”
The behavior of men is particularly worrying: 1 in 4 never use sunscreen at the beach (compared to 1 in 6 women). However, as Françoise Audebert explains, “Men’s skin is no less fragile than women’s. It is important that men also adopt as a gesture of prevention the application of sun protection product”. In 2017, out of 15,000 new cases of cutaneous melanoma estimated in France, 8,000 affected men (compared to 7,343 women), the latter representing 60% of deaths.
Good reflexes to adopt
For effective protection, dermatologists recommend reapplying your sunscreen every hour, avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day (no product really filters 100% of UV rays).
The protection factor depends on the type of skin, the highest being suitable for the lightest skin tones, and the lowest for the darkest. All this is also to be qualified according to the context: in the middle of summer, even the most dull will have to opt for an index 50 while in the spring, porcelain complexions can be satisfied with an index 10.
* Source: FEBEA survey (Federation of Beauty Companies) carried out in partnership with OpinionWay.
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