Statistics
Between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and over 130,000 malignant melanomas occur globally each year. A changing lifestyle and sun-seeking behavior are responsible for much of the increase in skin cancers.
In particular, frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood appear to set the stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.
Depletion of the ozone layer, which provides a protective filter against UV radiation, may further aggravate the problem.
Other chronic skin changes due to UV radiation include injuries to skin cells, blood vessels and fibrous tissue, better known as skin ageing.
(WHO, 2009)
Knowledge of limiting tanning to help prevent melanoma increased from 1988 (25%) to 1994 (77%), but decreased between 1994 and 2007 (67%).
This decline in knowledge was concurrent with an increase in the attitude that having a tan looks better (1994, 69%; 2007, 81%).
(Nursing Standard, 2008)