Jerusalem, 13 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A new nationwide survey commissioned by the Israel Cancer Association has revealed a troubling trend: nearly one-third of Israeli Jewish teenagers continue to sunbathe frequently, despite widespread awareness of the risks associated with ultraviolet exposure. The findings, released this week, also show that about 25% of adults admit to tanning regularly.
“We are very concerned about the phenomenon of tanning among teenagers and young adults,” said Moshe Bar-Haim, CEO of the Israel Cancer Association. “Today’s tanner may be tomorrow’s patient. Uncontrolled exposure to the sun at a young age, and especially sunburns during childhood, dramatically increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.”
The survey, conducted by Middah Consulting and Research with funding from public donations, included a representative sample of 500 Israeli adults aged 18 and older and 250 Jewish teens aged 14–18. Among teens surveyed, 30% reported that they tan often, while 40% said they do so rarely and 30% said they never tan. For adults, 25.3% reported frequent tanning, 48.1% rarely tan, and 26.6% avoid it altogether.
Despite their habits, the vast majority of respondents — 95.9% of teens and 89.3% of adults who tan frequently — said they are aware that uncontrolled sun exposure can cause skin cancer. Nevertheless, a strong cultural preference for tanned skin persists. More than 81% of teens agreed that a tan is considered beautiful, and nearly 75% of adults said the same.
“These findings reflect a dangerous contradiction,” Bar-Haim said. “People know the risks, yet many still seek out tanning because of outdated beauty ideals. We must change this perception if we want to prevent future cases of melanoma and other skin cancers.”
The surveys also explored motivations behind sun-safe behavior. Among teens who rarely or never tan, 71.6% of girls and 46.6% of boys said they avoid the sun to prevent skin cancer. Additionally, 61.4% of girls and 25% of boys said they do so to avoid premature skin aging.
Yet even among those who understand the risks, proper sun protection is inconsistent. While 94% of teens and nearly 89% of adults said they use sunscreen, many admitted to doing so irregularly. When asked why, 50% of teens and 48.3% of adults cited laziness, while others mentioned forgetfulness or discomfort from the cream.
Exposure to the sun is a risk for cancer — particularly skin cancer — because of the ultraviolet (UV) radiation it emits. This UV radiation can penetrate deep into the skin, cause sunburn, directly damage DNA, and cause mutations in the skin cells leading to uncontrolled cell growth and skin cancer. Repeated exposure, even without sunburn, can build up damage to the skin.
UV radiation also weakens the skin’s local immune response, reducing its ability to repair damaged DNA or destroy precancerous cells.
The Israel Cancer Association urges the public to avoid sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., wear wide-brimmed hats and protective clothing, seek shade, and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. The ICA particularly emphasizes protecting children, who are at significantly higher risk of developing skin cancer later in life due to early sunburns.
“It is critical that parents not give up on themselves or their children,” Bar-Haim said. “Being wise in the sun today can save lives in the future.”
