Why disturbing number of young Australians AREN’T bothering to get checked for skin cancer

Young Australians are not getting skin cancer checks in large numbers because they believe a trip to the dermatologist would cost them too much money. 

Melanoma is the most common type of cancer for millenials – those aged in their 20s and 30s. 

However, a survey of 1,000 Australians by the Skin Health Institute has revealed many in this group believe they are too young too need a skin check. 

The Save Our Skin survey, by the non-profit research and treatment centre, revealed that one in three Australians said the cost of seeing a dermatologist put them off. 

Only one in twelve people focused on getting a yearly skin check with Generation X – aged 39 to 54 years – twice as likely to make this a priority than millenials. 

The survey also revealed that one in seven adults self-checked their skin or got their partner to check for them instead of seeing a doctor. 

Skin Health Institute CEO Caroline Mulcahy said that with more than three million Australian getting sunburnt at least three times a year the message needs to be taken more seriously. 

‘The physical consequences of sunburn can be very serious, and so we really need Australians to change their behaviour now,’ Ms Mulcahy told The Herald Sun. 

‘Over 400,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer, and tragically over 1800 lose their lives to the disease every year.

‘Everyone should be getting their skin checked at least once a year.’

Only one in twelve people focused on getting a yearly skin check with Generation X – aged 39 to 54 years – twice as likely to make this a priority than millenials