LA ROCHE-POSAY, in partnership with Melbourne’s first surf park, URBNSURF, and Skin Check Champions, is providing free skin checks during International Men’s Health Week (12-18th June).
If you’ve been putting off your skin cancer check, let this be your wake-up call.
Recent data shows that skin cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men, after prostate, and alarmingly, skin cancer rates are twice as high in men than women.
With many men unaware of the risk and less than a third reportedly using sunscreen regularly*, this partnership aims to promote men’s skin health, specifically men who actively participate in recreational sports and outdoor work and engage them in conversations about the importance of regular skin checks and preventive measures.
Research also reveals that individuals engaging in water-based sports face an increased risk of UVR (Ultraviolet Radiation) exposure due to the reflective properties of water and sand. Both water and sand have been found to reflect more than six times the amount of UVR than grass, increasing the amount of UVR received and subsequently the likelihood of sun damage and skin-related issues.
For water-sport enthusiasts like surfers, regular sunscreen application and skin checks should be a priority.
Speaking about the importance of the partnership, LA ROCHE-POSAY’s Scientific Communications Manager Rachel McAdam said, “We are proud to partner with URBNSURF and provide free skin checks with long-term charity partner, Skin Check Champions, to the URBNSURF team and the wider community this International Men’s Health Week.
“Healthy Habits is this year’s theme, and it couldn’t be more fitting as we continue to educate on the importance of daily sunscreen use. A recent survey shows that men care about formulations that are fuss-free and LA ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios invisible fluid SPF50+ offers the highest level protection whilst capturing this technology in a fluid that feels invisible on the skin.”
Founder and CEO of Skin Check Champions, Scott Maggs commented, “We are thrilled to be providing free skin checks at URBNSURF for Men’s Health Week, as we work towards our goal of 5,000 skin checks in partnership with LA ROCHE-POSAY this year. We know that 98% of skin cancers are treatable with early detection, making this partnership an amazing opportunity to educate the male, surfing and wider community on the importance of skin health and regular checks.”
LA ROCHE-POSAY and Skin Check Champions will be providing free skin checks at URBNSURF Tullamarine, Melbourne, from the 15-18 June. LA ROCHE-POSAY will also provide Anthelios SPF50+ sunscreen application stations throughout the surf park during this time.
If you need a further nudge to get checked, here are some more facts on skin cancer:
- Australia is recognised as having the highest incidence (per 100 000) of skin cancers in the world.1
- 2 in 3 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.2
- Athletes & recreational enthusiasts who participate in organised outdoor sports receive substantial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) doses due to increased hours of exposure during training and competition, leading to a high prevalence of skin cancer.3
- Those in water-based sports have an added risk of UVR exposure due to water and sand having more than six times the reflectance of grass.4
- Individuals participating in outdoor sports experience substantially higher UVR exposure and are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer.5
Data: *Social Research Centre. (2022). 2022 Summer Sun Protection Survey (Life in Australia™) – Analytical Report, Melbourne, Victoria. 1. Elflein J. Rates of skin cancer in the countries with the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide in 2018 U.S. Statistica. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1032114/countries-with-the-greatest- rates-of-skin-cancer/. 2. Cancer Council Australia. Understanding Skin Cancer: A Guide For People With Cancer, Their Families And Friends. https://www.cancer.org.au/assets/pdf/understanding-skin-cancer-booklet. 3. Moehrle M. Outdoor sports and skin cancer. Clin Dermatol. 2008;26(1):12-15. Harrison SC, Bergfeld WF. Ultraviolet light and skin cancer in athletes. Sports Health. 2009;1(4):335-340. 4. Bennett, Hannah & Dahl, Lillian & Furness, James & Kemp-Smith, Kevin & Climstein, Mike. (2021). Skin Cancer and Sun Protective Behaviours in Water Based Sports: A Scoping Review. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 38. 10.1111/phpp.12737. 5. Snyder A, Valdebran M, Terrero D, Amber KT, Kelly KM. Solar ultraviolet exposure in individuals who perform outdoor sport activities. Sports Med-Open. 2020;6(1):1-12.
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