Approximately 25% of Australian children mistakenly believe that having a suntan offers protection against long-term skin damage and cancer, according to recent findings.

Social media trends that glamorize tanning may be influencing these perceptions, as the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne’s Child Health Poll reveals that 49% of young Australians favor having a tan.

The research, which surveyed 1,400 parents and their children aged 12 to 17, also highlights a significant gap in teenagers’ understanding of effective sun protection and the harmful effects of sunburn.

Dermatologist Dr. Susan Robertson dispels the misconception that children are immune to skin cancer.

“Many teenagers believe that skin damage is an issue they’ll face much later in life, but that’s a dangerous misconception,” she explained.

“Although it’s rare, we do unfortunately see cases of skin cancer in children, sometimes as young as ten years old,” Dr. Robertson added.

Experts tell parents to ensure their child wears enough sunscreen when going outside, even on a cloudy day, and to ensure they wear a hat, sunglasses and proper clothing to protect themselves from the threat of sunburn and long-lasting damage to their skin.