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Dying for a tan? SunSense launches nationwide tour

SunSense UK has chosen Liverpool as the first stop on a nationwide tour to talk about the dangers of intentional tanning and reveal the hidden damage already caused to people’s skin by the sun.

The ‘Dying for a Tan’ summer tour, from the number one sunscreen in UK and Australian pharmacy, features a cameraman who is able to show people what their skin really looks like under a UV lens.

SunSense found that the desire for a tan still runs deep in Liverpool, despite the fact that exposure to UV radiation from the sun and other sources, including sun beds, is a major cause of skin cancer.

Kicking off in Chavasse Park, Liverpool ONE last weekend, it is hoped the tour will bring about an immediate shift in attitudes amongst those who overlook the long-term health risks for the sake of a sun-kissed appearance.

Liverpool-based charity North West Cancer Research, has shown its support for the campaign and joined the Sunsense UK team for the Liverpool roadshow.

SunSense believes it will help to develop healthier attitudes and overcome widespread ignorance in the UK, where skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and rates continue to rise.

The message from SunSense is clear – tanning is not a sign of good health – any change in the colour of the skin is a sign that your body is trying to repair damage caused by UV rays.

Developed and manufactured in Australia, SunSense is formulated to Australian standards – the most stringent in the world - and believes that there is a lot that the UK can learn from Australia - the first country in the world to see a reduction in skin cancer rates following 30 years of public health campaigns.

Dr Kerryn Greive, Scientific Affairs Manager at SunSense comments: “Whilst a lot of work has been done to educate the British public on the deadly risks of UV exposure, a number of people still underestimate the risks of sun exposure in the UK and what’s more, many are confused about what constitutes effective sun protection.

“Sunscreen is one of the most common methods of sun protection and I would recommend one that offers SPF 50 or 50+ broad-spectrum protection. In Australia, the advice is to combine a high factor sunscreen with sun-protective clothing, a hat that protects the face, head, neck and ears, shade and sunglasses.

“We hope that the Dying for a Tan tour will provide people with the facts they need to make an informed decision about their health. All skin is at risk of sun damage and protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun is critical.”

North West Cancer Research is currently campaigning for sun safety, as part of its skin cancer awareness campaign #suncreamselfie, which is encouraging people to upload selfies with sun cream on their faces to social media and nominate their followers to do the same.

Bobby Magee, fundraising manager for North West Cancer Research, said: “The latest figures surrounding skin cancer show that the number of cases in Liverpool are alarmingly high – around 295 people in the region are diagnosed with skin cancer every year.

“All exposure to harmful UV rays, including sun bathing and using sun beds, increase our risk of developing skin cancer and it is important that we help raise awareness of this to as many people as possible and we are pleased to be able to support Sunsense Uk’s ‘Dying for a Tan’ campaign, alongside our own #suncreamselfie campaign which we launched at the start of the month.

“By working together and taking our skin cancer awareness message to the public, and giving people the latest safety advice, we hope we can help people to stay safe in the sun and reduce the number of skin cancer cases in Liverpool and across the North West.”

The SunSense UK ‘Dying for a Tan’ roadshow will also visit the following locations throughout the UK over the summer months:

Newcastle: Saturday 27th June 2015 Brighton: Saturday 18th July 2015 Cardiff: Saturday 1st August 2015

For more information on where you can visit SunSense on the Dying for a Tan Tour, please see www.sunsense.co.uk/face-suncare/dying-for-a-tan or visit the SunSense UK facebook page or @SunSenseUK on twitter.

NWCR is asking people to upload their selfies with sun cream on their faces to their facebook or twitter pages with the hash tag #suncreamselfie and nominate their followers to do the same. They can also make a donation to NWCR just by sending a text message from your mobile phone. Text by SKIN10 and your donation amount to 70070. (e.g SKIN10 £3).

Don’t forget to nominate you’re your followers to do the same to help us spread the word. http://www.nwcr.org/Skin_cancer_awareness_month__May_2015-2541.html

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rosie Brierley .