Germans least likely in Europe to wear sunscreen
Swiss and Austrians apply suncream most religiously, while 2 in 10 Germans don’t bother using it. The most popular sunscreens are those with sun protection factor (SPF) 30– 50. Of those in Europe who do get sunburn, they’re most likely to take the hit on their shoulders, necks and backs. All this was revealed in a representative survey carried out on behalf of Galaxus in France, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Whether it’s a dip in the ocean, a hike in the mountains or a pint in your local beer garden, life in the summertime mostly takes place outdoors.
All the more reason to wear the right sun protection. Most of our survey respondents in Europe agree; 85 per cent said that they use sunscreen.
Nine out of 10 people do so in Switzerland and Austria, while the figure drops to just under 80 per cent in Germany. That’s according to a representative survey conducted by market researcher YouGov on behalf of online retailer Galaxus. The pollster surveyed almost 2,600 people.
Reasons given for not wearing suncream: too laborious, too costly, too gross
The main reason people don’t wear sunscreen varies from country to country. In Switzerland, almost 10 per cent of respondents said they didn’t use suncream. More than a third of them steer clear of it because they think it’s gross.
In France, people are unwilling to spend money on suncream, while Italians are reluctant to let it get in their way of their tans. Germans think putting on sunscreen is too laborious, while Austrians are concerned about its potential health impacts.
There seem to be other reasons why people decline to use suncream. Depending on the country, between 35 and 55 per cent of respondents said they didn’t wear suncream for «another reason». Maybe the comment section will be able to shed some light on that.
High SPF sunscreens are customers’ first choice
People who do wear sun protection are most likely to go for suncream. Sun sprays, meanwhile, are the second most popular sun protection product. Day creams with SPF do well in Germany and Austria; 1 in 5 respondents there have one in their bathroom cabinet.
Most people in Europe use sun protection with SPF 30–50. Low-SPF products, on the other hand, are the least popular.
Slapping on the sunscreen for outdoor activities
People in Europe put on suncream most often when outdoor swimming and sunbathing. They also use sun protection when doing sport or other outdoor activities. The chart below reveals country-specific differences.
Between 9 and 15 per cent of respondents said they always used sun protection, for example by wearing a day cream with SPF.
Shoulders are the most likely sunburn casualties
When people do get sunburnt – with or without sun cream – it’s usually the shoulders, neck or head that take the hit.
Germany has the highest number of «sunburn virgins», with 13 per cent of those surveyed stating that they’d never been sunburnt. In Switzerland, only five per cent of respondents can lay claim to this.
Where do you stand on sun protection? Do you scrupulously slap on your sunscreen? Or do you often get sunburn? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
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