Tan envy sees Bay teens ready to risk their skins

Bay teens say a tan is still considered attractive despite knowing the dangers of sun exposure.
A recent study by MoleMap and research company TNS showed that teens are continuing to ignore skin cancer risks, with new research showing nearly two in five are likely to sunbathe without using any sunscreen.
The study came out in conjunction with part of the New Zealand Cancer Society's SunSmart week, which finishes tomorrow.
It also showed 67 per cent of teenage females in New Zealand said the tanned looked is attractive.
Three teens from Tauranga Girls' College, Nicola Gillies, 14, Ellie Verran, 13, and Sandi Broersma, 13, told the Bay of Plenty Times that on a scale of one to 10, having a tan during the summer rated about a six on a level of importance.
All three said there was some level of pressure to looked tanned when summer came around.
"It's nice to have one but it is not a really big deal," said Nicola. "But everyone comments on it when they see you have one."
Ellie added: "Everyone's always like: 'I have to get a tan this summer' and they will always mention one another's tan."
Sandi said there was a belief among teenage girls that having a tan made you look more attractive and that having a good tan created a certain level of envy.
"If someone has a good tan, then people will not want to sit next to them because they look so dark."
All the girls said they were quite aware of the risks too much sun posed, and all said they were careful to wear suntan lotion before heading outdoors on a sunny day.
"My mum has drilled it into me and we constantly learn about it at school, the whole 'slip, slop, slap, wrap' thing," said Ellie.
MoleMap chief executive Adrian Bowling said that the research for their study followed an audit that showed melanoma was being detected at about 20 times the rate that would be expected for average New Zealanders.
"It is widely acknowledged that the two leading causes of melanoma are genetics and over-exposure to the sun's rays, especially in our younger years."
Mr Bowling suspected part of the reason behind teen attitudes was a perception that melanoma was an "old person's disease", with detection most common among 40 to 50-year-olds. However, 80 to 90 per cent of sun-related damage leading to melanoma occurred before the age of 18.
Mr Bowling said contrary to popular belief, people with dark skin were not immune to the sun's harmful rays. He recommended regularly self-checking skin for changes and booking an annual skin examination with a medical professional.*Melanoma is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand for men and women Melanoma is the most common cancer in 20 to 40-year-olds
* One in 15 New Zealanders will develop a melanoma at some stage in their life
* The estimated direct cost of melanoma to the health system is $33 million every year
* Latest information shows 244 New Zealanders died in 2001 because of melanoma.