Teenagers have high knowledge about sun exposure risks and adequate photoprotection, but show poor adherence (7, 9). This is shown by multiple sunburns and less application of sunscreen than other age groups (1). Interventions targeting sun protection behavior within this age group consistently show improved knowledge post intervention, yet few improvements in behavior (9).
It is a fact of life that teenagers are under pressure to look a certain way. Despite often knowing the dangers of tanning, many young adults still seek a tan in order to conform. This paradox is visualized by Australia's youth, in which melanoma is the most common cancer, but still nearly half of the teenagers report a desire to tan (9).
Sadly, this pressure leads some teenagers to resort to using sunbeds, exposing them to harmful UV radiation, which can be 15 times more intensive than UV rays from the sun. Sunbed emission spectra are similar to the sun spectrum in the UVB (280 - 320 nm) range but reach values 10 to 15 times higher in the UVA (320 - 400 nm) range (10). A first exposure to indoor tanning before the age of 30 increases the risk of developing a melanoma by 75 % (11).Â
Skin damage due to sun exposure can be seen in a large proportion of teenagers and depends on the individual sun exposure habits as well as the geographical location of the individual (12).
Â
