In a new survey of 1,000 millennials and 1,000 Gen Xers, 75% of respondents said that while they are mindful of their sun exposure, only 19% wear sunscreen all year, 35% used a tanning bed and 46% regretted how long they stayed out in the sun when they were younger. These harmful habits can lead to an increased overall risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). This is why DermTech, Inc, a leader in precision dermatology, is now developing a direct-to-consumer (DTC) marketed skin and health wellness DNA risk assessment test. The Company launched its Sun Regrets campaign to educate Americans on their skin health as it relates to the risk of skin cancer, the risk factors of nonmelanoma skin cancer and the importance of preventative measures to reduce ultraviolet (UV) damage.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), is the most common type of skin cancer, affecting more than 3.3 million Americans each year. Actinic keratosis (AK), which affects nearly 40 million Americans each year, is a precancerous skin growth that can develop into SCC and is one of the most common skin conditions dermatologists treat. NMSCs and AKs are caused by repeated exposure to UV from the sun or tanning beds.
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Respondents acknowledged they didn’t know much about skin cancer, with only 44% feeling knowledgeable about any type of skin cancer. Even fewer felt informed about nonmelanoma skin cancers basal cell carcinoma (only 16% felt knowledgeable) and squamous cell carcinoma (14%), or actinic keratosis (10%).
“This survey shows there is a lot of room for education when it comes to nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC),” said Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, board-certified dermatologist, clinical associate professor of dermatology, New York University Langone Medical Center. “The good news is that millennials and Gen Xers are concerned about how much sun they are getting, but they still aren’t following key steps to ensure they protect their skin, such as wearing sunscreen year-round and remembering to put sunscreen on all areas that are exposed to the sun.
SOURCE: Businesswire