‘Anxiety about aging’: How dermatologists can discuss sun safety with Gen Z adults

Key takeaways:

• 28% of Gen Z respondents said that getting a tan was more important to them than preventing skin cancer.
• Seattle-based dermatologist Heather D. Rogers, MD, FAAD, discusses tips on working with Gen Z.

Generation Z adults love skin care but are less enthusiastic about sunscreen and sun safety practices, putting them at a higher risk for skin cancer, according to a new survey from the American Academy of Dermatology.

This generation of adults, also known as Gen Z, fall into the age range of 18 to 25 years. According to the American Academy of Dermatology’s recent survey, which polled more than 1,000 U.S. adults, Gen Z has a complicated relationship with sunscreen and sun safety habits.

The survey showed that 52% of Gen Z adults are unaware of sunburn risks, including increased risk for developing skin cancer and premature aging. When quizzed on their sun protection knowledge, more than 50% of Americans received a passing grade of A or B, whereas 32% of Gen Z respondents received a failing grade.

This generation is also less inclined to wear sunscreen, with 37% of Gen Z respondents stating they only apply sunscreen after being nagged by other people vs. 27% of general Americans reporting the same. This has led to one in four Gen Z adults already reporting skin damage from the sun.

According to Heather D. Rogers, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Seattle, aspects of these findings are unsurprising, whereas others come as a shock.

“Gen Z is obsessed with skin care,” Rogers told Healio, “but they’re not using sunscreen, at least not to the level we want them to.

“This appears to be a paradox because this is the group that wants to use skin care products, is very concerned about their appearances and has great anxiety about aging, yet they are not using the No. 1 tool we have to slow the signs of aging,” Rogers added.

This begs the question, why does a large proportion of Gen Z not use sunscreen? According to Rogers, multiple reasons could be at play, with the first being a general lack of education about sunscreen and sun safety.

“I do think a few fearmongering reports about sunscreen have been really effective at dissuading Gen Z from using it,” Rogers said, “but all this is doing is harming themselves.”

According to a worldwide study focused on the buying habits of Gen Z, this demographic is also the most influenced by celebrities. Unfortunately, some celebrities have been encouraging fans to drink water in place of wearing sunscreen, claiming that we evolved from ancestors who benefited from sun exposure and should return to those roots.

“This logic is really faulty,” Rogers warns. “First and foremost, when people lived as nomads, they were not sunbathing. Secondly, the average life expectancy was 25 to 27 years of age, due to people dying of infections.”

Rogers went on to explain that while there is a benefit to soaking in the sun’s rays, such as vitamin D, the sun is also a powerful source of radiation.

While ignorance and misinformation may be a source of Gen Z’s sunscreen avoidance, Rogers proposes that the more likely reason is appearance motivated.

According to the AAD’s survey, 28% of Gen Z respondents said that getting a tan was more important to them than preventing skin cancer, with 70% reporting tanned or darker skin in 2023.

“I think this is mostly a vanity thing,” Rogers said, explaining that, in addition to being tan, this generation is concerned about sunscreen’s cosmetic appearance and whether the “cool kids” are using it.

While every generation has had its share of those who do not wear sunscreen, what Rogers finds most shocking about the information surrounding Gen Z is that they are very invested in skin care yet not as invested in sunscreen.

“The thing is that the majority of Gen Z is wearing sunscreen, it’s not like none of them are,” Rogers explained. “But with how many are using skincare products, you would think that it would actually be a higher rate of sunscreen use, when in fact, it’s a lower rate.”

So how can dermatologists best discuss sun safety with Gen Z adults? According to Rogers, one tactic would be to appeal to their No. 1 concern — aging.

“We have to meet Gen Z where they are and they may have different motivators than we do,” Rogers said. “It’s hard to have an 18-year-old think about skin cancer, but this generation is thinking about aging, and we have good data to show that 90% of the signs of aging are caused by the sun.”

Dermatologists should remind their Gen Z patients to take the necessary sun safety precautions to prevent aging while also keeping in mind that this is a younger demographic that emphasizes fun.

“When we walk in with our white coats saying, ‘don’t go in the sun,’ ‘always be covered up,’ ‘wear sunscreen all the time,’ that doesn’t sound like very much fun,” Rogers said. “You have to give them a reason to do it.”

“I joke around with them saying to pay for the cabana,” Rogers added. “It’s cheaper than fixing your skin and who doesn’t want to be in a cabana? That way they can protect their skin, but still feel cute, cool and young.”

At the end of the day, Gen Z adults prefer a collaborative relationship with their dermatologist rather than a dogmatic one, Rogers concluded. Asking your Gen Z patients why they prefer not to wear sunscreen and what their concerns are is always the best starting point to helping them protect their skin.

Reference:

• Wide-ranging Gen Z study reveals purchasing decisions strongly influenced by celebrities, desire for uniqueness. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wide-ranging-gen-z-study-reveals-purchasing-decisions-strongly-influenced-by-celebrities-desire-for-uniqueness-300782023.html. Published Jan. 22, 2019. Accessed May 21, 2024.