Sun Safety Data Hub

At Patient Claim Line, we commissioned a survey with 2000 Brits to find out the nation’s attitude towards the commercial use of sunbeds, as well as Brits’ behaviour when UV levels have been high.

What are Brits’ attitudes towards the commercial use of sunbeds?

• Nearly half of Brits (49%) believe that the commercial use of sunbeds should be outlawed in the UK. Just 12% disagreed, with 6% unsure and 32% neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
• 25–34-year-olds are the age group which believes the most that sunbeds should be outlawed in the UK (52%).
• 35–44-year-olds are the age group which believes the most that the commercial use of sunbeds should not be outlawed in the UK (14%).
• Those from Belfast believed the most that the commercial use of sunbeds should be outlawed in the UK (61%).
• Those from Plymouth believed the most that the commercial use of sunbeds should not be outlawed in the UK (21%).
• Men were more likely than women to disagree with the commercial use of sunbeds being outlawed (14% vs 11%).

What are Brits’ response to the statement: ‘I would rather get a tan than take steps to reduce the risk of skin cancer’?

• 1 in 4 Brits (26%) would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the chances of getting skin cancer, with close to a quarter of Brits (24%) neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
• 3 in 10 men (31%) would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the chances of getting skin cancer, which is more so than women (22%).
• 2 in 5 (41%) 25–34-year-olds would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the chances of getting skin cancer.
• Over half of 55+-year-olds (57%) disagree that they would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the risk of getting skin cancer.
• Over a third (36%) of those from Belfast agreed that they would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the risk of getting skin cancer.
• Over half (57%) of Norwich residents disagreed that they would rather get a tan than take steps that reduce the risk of getting skin cancer.

What Brits have admitted to doing when UV levels have been high

How many Brits have chosen not to wear sun lotion?

• Over half of Brits (55%) have admitted to choosing not to wear sun lotion, when UV levels have been high, because it feels sticky, with 16% admitting to doing this every time or frequently.
• Out of major UK cities, Londoners chose not to use sun lotion because it felt sticky the most, with 1 in 5 (20%) admitting to this every time and frequently when UV levels are high.
• 16–24-year-olds admitted the most that every time or frequently they choose not to use sun lotion because it felt sticky (28%).
• Men admitted more than women (19% vs 13%) to choosing not to use sun lotion because it felt sticky, every time or frequently when UV levels are high.

How many Brits have forgotten to reapply sun lotion after swimming?

• 2 in 3 Brits (67%) have admitted to forgetting to reapply sun lotion after swimming in the sea or pool, when UV levels have been high, with 21% admitting to doing this every time or frequently.
• Over a third of Belfast residents (34%) have forgotten to reapply sun lotion after swimming in the pool or sea, either frequently or every time, when UV levels have been high – more so than any other major city in the UK.
• 1 in 3 16–24-year-olds (33%) have forgotten to reapply sun lotion after swimming in the sea or pool, either frequently or every time, when UV levels are high.
• Men admitted more than women to forgetting to reapply sun lotion, every time or frequently, after swimming in the sea or pool (23% vs 20%).

How many Brits have not worn a sun hat or cap because it did not match their outfit?

• Over half of Brits (57%) have admitted to not wearing a sunhat or cap because it did not match their outfit, with over 1 in 5 (21%) admitting to doing this every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high.
• Out of major UK cities, Belfast residents chose not to wear a sunhat or cap because it did not match their outfit, the most, either every time or frequently when UV levels were high (27%).
• Over a third (36%) of 16–34-year-olds chose not to wear a sunhat or cap because it did not match their outfit, either every time or frequently, when UV levels were high.
• 1 in 5 men (21%), as well as 1 in 5 women (21%) chose not to wear a sunhat or cap either every time or frequently, when UV levels were high, because it did not match their outfit.

How many Brits have not worn sun lotion on their face because they were wearing make-up?

• Nearly half of Brits (48%) have admitted to not wearing sun lotion on their face because they were wearing make-up, with 18% admitting to doing this every time or frequently.
• Nearly a quarter of Londoners (24%) have not worn sun lotion on their face because they were wearing make-up, either every time or frequently when UV levels have been high, which is higher than any other major city.
• 25–34-year-olds did not wear sun lotion on their face because they were wearing make-up, more than any other age group, either every time or frequently when UV levels were high (29%).

How many Brits have chosen not to wear sun lotion because it was cloudy and got burned?

• 64% of Brits have admitted to choosing not to wear sun lotion because it was cloudy, when UV levels were high, and got burned as a result, with 17% admitting to this occurring every time or frequently.
• 1 in 5 Brummies’ (22%) chose not to wear sun lotion because it was cloudy and got burned, either every time or frequently when UV levels were high.
• Over a quarter of 25–34-year-olds (27%) have chosen not to wear sun lotion because it was cloudy and got burned.
• Men have chosen not to wear sun lotion because it was cloudy and got burned every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high, slightly more than women (18% vs 16%).

How many Brits have sunbathed during peak UV level hours?

• 67% of Brits have admitted to sunbathing during peak UV level hours, with 18% admitting to doing this every time or frequently.
• A quarter of those from Plymouth (25%) admitted to sunbathing during peak UV level hours either every time or frequently, more than any other UK city.
• Over a quarter of 25–34-year-olds (29%) have sunbathed during peak UV level hours either every time or frequently, more so than any other age group.
• Men admit to sunbathing, every time and frequently, during peak UV level hours, more so than women (21% vs 19%).

How many Brits have worn sunglasses without UV protection?

• 61% of Brits have admitted to wearing sunglasses without UV protection, with 1 in 5 (20%) admitting to doing this every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high.
• A quarter of Plymouth residents (25%) admitted to wearing sunglasses every time or frequently, which didn’t have UV protection, when UV levels were high.
• Over a quarter of 25–34-year-olds (29%) admitted to wearing sunglasses every time or frequently, which didn’t have UV protection, when UV levels were high.
• Men admitted to wearing sunglasses without UV protection, frequently or every time when UV levels were high, more than women (21% vs 19%).

How many Brits have used SPF15 instead of using SPF30 or SPF50?

• 3 in 5 Brits (63%) have admitted to using SPF15 overusing SPF30 or SPF50, with 18% admitting to doing this every time or frequently.
• A quarter of Belfast residents (25%) admitted to using SPF15 instead of SPF30 or SPF50 every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high.
• A quarter of 16–34-year-olds (25%) used SPF15 instead of SPF30 or SPF50 every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high.
• Women admit to using SPF15 overusing SPF30 or SPF50, every time or frequently when UV levels have been high, more so than men (19% vs 17%).

Are Brits using baby oil to tan more quickly?

• Brits are avoiding using baby oil to tan more quickly with 3 in 5 (59%) stating that they have never done this, when UV levels have been high – just 1 in 10 Brits (11%) stated that they did this every time or frequently.
• Nearly three quarters of Sheffield residents (73%) have never used baby oil to tan more quickly when UV levels were high.
• Those from Belfast are the worst offenders for using baby oil to tan more quickly, with 16% admitting to doing so every time or frequently when UV levels were high.
• Over 4 in 5 55+ year olds (81%) have never used baby oil to tan more quickly, making them the age group most against this behaviour.
• 16–24-year-olds were the worst offenders for using baby oil to tan more quickly, with 1 in 5 (22%) admitting to doing this every time or frequently, when UV levels have been high.
• A higher percentage of women reported never using baby oil to tan more quickly, when UV levels were high compared to men (63% vs 54%).

Survey conducted in July 2024.

If you’ve experienced a delayed or missed skin cancer diagnosis, Patient Claim Line can help. Visit our cancer negligence claims hub for more information.