Victorians need skin reality check

VICTORIANS know sun safety is important but are the most lax in the nation when it comes to having skin checks.

That’s according to a survey that found more than three out of four Victorians have gone without a professional skin check in the past year, while half of them have never had one.

The research, commissioned by life insurance company TAL, also found nearly all Victorians (97 per cent) understand the importance of sun safety.

Of those Victorians who had gone without a check in the past year, about a quarter used being “too busy” as their excuse.

Nationally, 71 per cent of the 1000 people surveyed have not had a professional skin check in the past year, while 39 per cent of Australians have never had one.

Queenslanders are the best when it comes to skin checks, the research shows, having the least number of respondents who had never had one (26 per cent).

South Australia (43 per cent) follows Victoria (50 per cent), with NSW (37 per cent) in third place at the unfavourable end of the scale.

The data has been released as TAL prepares to offer free skin checks at Melbourne’s Federation Square this weekend, with the company stressing the importance of the checks in detecting and preventing skin cancer.

The weekend is expected to be a scorcher, with Melbourne and Geelong tipped to reach a top of 40C on Sunday.