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'Men are useless' - NZ Skin Institute warns complacent men of high UV exposure danger

December 17, 2017

A new survey has found only 11 per cent of men regularly use sunblock, compared to 47 per cent of women.

While earlier than usual sunshine in regions like Wellington and Canterbury this year has been welcomed, many are forgetting about the lasting impact of our high UV levels.

A new survey by the Cancer Society has revealed while 47 per cent of women use sunblock on a regular basis, the number of men who use the product is significantly less at just 11 per cent.

Mike Kernaghan is the chief executive for the Cancer Society who says the results are not surprising.

"Men are useless. We seriously don't listen to the messages and therefore we don't put the sunscreen on," he says.

The New Zealand Skin Institute says melanoma is the most common cause of death from cancer for men aged between 20 to 44.

Nearly 80 per cent of those surveyed were unaware of how to recognise an abnormal mole, and some Kiwis only slip, slop, slap and wrap when they're at the beach.

"People just don’t understand the risk on a cloudy day it the middle of summer, that the UV's still very strong," Mr Kernaghan says,

While Kiwis aren't aren't so aware of the risks, long-term sunsmart campaigns have led to a decline in melanoma across the ditch.

Dr Shona Dalzell is a skin doctor from the Skin Institute, and says early detection is key in treatment.

"If we get melanoma early, it's such a different conversation we're going to have with somebody compared to if we get melanoma late," Dr Dalzell says.

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