Don’t shoot the messenger but a Batman-shaped sunburn on a bare chest isn't that funny (or sensible) anymore. Fortunately, most people see that now.
And yet for some reason in British culture, a select few online and print publishers think it's mandatory every spring and summer to devote column inches to "the most epic sunscreen fails".
Instead of educating idle behaviour by men and women who might not be aware of all the facts, some media outlets continue to glorify it. Year after year.
Hard facts
Doing our bit to counter this culture, here's a short public service announcement.
Around 86% of UK melanoma cases are caused by too much UV. Putting a positive spin on things, that means up to 9 in 10 melanomas could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds.
Just a few serious sunburns in your lifetime can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. UV damage builds up gradually over the years, so it’s never too late to start protecting your skin.
That’s why the World Health Organisation classifies ultraviolet radiation as a proven human carcinogen.
Picking on men for one second, male skin cancer incidence in the UK has increased 3x over the past 20 years and around 60% more men than women die from skin cancer in the UK.
That Batman-shaped sunburn isn’t quite so funny anymore.
Let's have each other's back
There's nothing we love more than summer and spending time outdoors. We live for those moments as much as you do. All we ask is that you protect your skin at the same time. And take care of anybody who might not be. You could let sunburn ruin your summer (and your life) or you could just protect yourself.
