Despite years of public health campaigns, Canadians are spending more time in the sun while neglecting sun safety — a growing concern for researchers as melanoma rates continue to rise.
A recent study led by McGill University, which analyzed data from over 77,000 individuals between 2011 and 2018, found that 75% of adults spent at least 30 minutes in the sun on summer days off, with nearly half staying out for more than two hours. Alarmingly, most participants reported inconsistent or no sunscreen use, and one in three suffered sunburns in the past year.
Young adults were especially prone to risky sun behavior, including tanning bed usage, and were less likely to use protective clothing. According to researcher Dr. Litvinov, societal beauty norms, a perceived sense of youth invincibility, and cost-related barriers may all contribute.
Melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer, increased by 17% in 2024, with approximately 11,000 new cases reported nationwide. Other skin cancers are also on the rise.
