The wet British summer has left millions of Brits in danger of being sunburned on holiday - because they are so desperate for a tan, it has been revealed.
Incredibly, 70% of holiday makers are so fed up with the seemingly endless weeks of rain they will do anything for a tan, with Brits dangerously ditching all forms of sun protection when finally reaching their summer holiday destination abroad.
5 in 10 people will burn on the very first day of their summer holiday this year as a direct result of missing out on sun in the UK.
Those who start the holiday by religiously applying lotions and potions will stop using them by day four if they haven’t achieved a perfect bronzed complexion.
In fact, half of people travelling this summer will consider their holiday a complete and utter flop if they don’t walk away with a decent tan.
Mel Wilson, head of health for Superdrug, which commissioned the study of 2,000 Brits to launch the What’s Your Factor sun safer campaign said:
“After weeks of enduring torrential downpours, it is easy to understand why British people are craving a bit of sunshine but these findings show that people are taking their tanning to the extreme by forgetting the importance of applying sun protection on every day of their annual break.
“The idea that people would consider stopping all form of protection by day four of the holiday is ludicrous, they are risking a multitude of problems from burning, to heat stroke, to early ageing, and even worse, skin cancer.”
The study also shows:
- 14 per cent of Brits don’t use any sun tan protection on the first day of their holiday;
- 25 per cent use a really low factor of sun tan protection;
- Only three per cent of people would consider using sun block of factor 50 and over, fearing they would return to the UK with no form of tan at all.
Of the parents who completed the survey, a third also admitted they would forget to apply their own sun protection in favour of their children’s, and 27 per cent of parents often return home from holiday burnt, while their children have retained their lily white complexion.
Mel Wilson continues:
“The interesting thing about this new research is that people seem to associate the need for sun protection with summer holidays abroad, when in fact we should be wearing whenever there are signs of sunshine in the UK too, however rare these occasions may be.
“This summer we’re launching the What’s Your Factor campaign designed to show customers the SPF they should be using, how they should apply sun lotion and how much they should use.
“We know that for a lot of people a tan is a holiday must-have which is why we’ve launched a new fake tan called Dark Tan which is our darkest colour.”
Other findings from the study included:
- 13 per cent opt for baby oil over sun protection;
- 16 per cent are committed to sunbathing during the hottest part of the day, and a fifth avoid shade, parasols and umbrellas altogether;
- 13 per cent go without sunglasses;
- 1 in 10 Brits try to get away with wearing the tiniest swimwear to expose maximum flesh, with 28 per cent frequently turning their body to ensure an even tan;
- 20% tie their hair up when sunbathing, and the same percentage of people try lying on a lilo in the middle of the pool or sea to draw in the rays.
TOP 10 WAYS OF SUN WORSHIPPING
1. Sunbathe during the hottest part of the day
2. Turn your body to ensure an even tan
3. Constantly move the bed to chase the sun
4. Sunbathe on a lilo in the pool or sea
5. Tie up hair
6. Avoid all shade, parasols or umbrellas
7. Alternate between pool and sun lounger
8. Don’t wear sunglasses
9. Use baby oil instead of sun protection
10. Wear tiniest swimwear to expose maximum flesh
