KEY POINTS:
Young New Zealand sun worshippers are continuing to risk getting skin cancer despite 300 deaths every year.
A survey of nearly 300 under-30s, conducted by MoleMap and research company TNS, showed over three-quarters admitted to suffering from sunburn over the last two years.
Fifty-eight per cent said it happened "once or twice" and nearly one in five admitting to being regularly sunburnt.
While 63 per cent were unlikely to sunbathe without using sunscreen, that figure dropped to 54 per cent among 15-to-19-year-olds.
The survey showed the tanned look was attractive to the majority of people questioned and many were reckless in trying to achieve that look despite figures showing over 300 people die every year from skin cancer.
MoleMap chief executive Adrian Bowling said the research followed an audit that showed melanoma were being detected at about 20 times the rate that would be expected for average New Zealanders.
"It is widely acknowledged that the two leading causes of melanoma are genetics and overexposure to the sun's rays, especially in our younger years," he said.
Mr Bowling said he suspected part of the reason behind teen attitudes was a perception that melanoma was an "old person's" disease, with detection most common among 40 and 50-year-olds.
However, 80 to 90 per cent of sun-related damage leading to melanoma occurred before the age of 18.
Mr Bowling said contrary to popular belief, people with dark skin were not immune from the sun's harmful rays.
He recommended regularly self-checking skin for changes and booking an annual skin examination with a medical professional.
THE FACTS
- Melanoma is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand for men and women.
- Melanoma is the most common cancer in 20-40-year-olds.
- One in 15 New Zealanders will develop a melanoma at some stage in their life.
- The estimated direct cost of melanoma to the health system is $33 million every year.
- Latest information shows 244 New Zealanders died in 2001 because of melanoma.
- NZPA
