Consumers love their skin, but they don't always take skin health as seriously as other concerns, according to a survey of 1,008 adults aged 25 and older. The online survey was conducted in January and February 2012 by Public Strategies, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org) and LEO Pharma. It shows that nearly all respondents (90%) feel that skin can be sexy. Yet while the majority of respondents (58%) acknowledged that they may be at risk for sun damage, they rated tanned skin as one of the most attractive skin features. Additionally, of the 58% of respondents who believe they are at risk for sun damage, half of them have never checked their own skin or had a medical professional check their skin for sun damage-related skin conditions.
Other responses to the survey illustrated that:
• Nearly 9 in 10 Americans have never heard of actinic keratosis, despite it affecting approximately 1 in 6 people
• 59% of respondents have never talked to their doctor about how to prevent sun damage or skin cancer
• 63% of respondents have asked their partners' opinion on health questions, but only 30% have discussed skin appearance with their partner recently
• While nearly 6 in 10 respondents spend time outdoors at least a few times per week, only 14% wear sun protection daily
In response to these results, the AAD and LEO Pharma have launched Listen To Your Skin (www.listentoyourskin.org), a website that educates Americans about the prevalence of sun damage and the lesser known signs, symptoms, and consequences of overexposure to the sun, including actinic keratosis (AK).
