Nearly half of Australians still don’t understand how to best protect themselves from the dangers of sun exposure, a new study has found.

New data released by Cancer Council Australia two weeks before summer’s official start shows that 48 per cent of Australians report only limited understanding of sun-safe behaviour.

But their gaps in understanding differ depending on which generation researchers spoke to.

Younger people were more likely to use sunscreen than older generations, though Gen Z — aged between 16 and 30 — were the most likely to report pressure to have a suntan.

More than one in four — or 27 per cent — said influencer suntanning content made them want a tan, and 26 per cent said they feel pressure from friends, family or social media to have a tan during the warmer months.

But they were also the most likely of the generations to say they had become more deliberate about sun protection over the past year, with 55 per cent of Gen Z agreeing with the statement.

Millennials, now aged around 31 to 45 years old, were the most likely to look for scientific evidence or research when checking sunscreen or sun protection information online.

Nearly 40 per cent of Millennials said they looked for hard evidence, compared with 26 per cent of Gen X (aged between 46 and 60) and 27 per cent of Baby Boomers (61 to 80 years old).

But only 11 per cent of Millennials had a strong understanding of the UV Index compared with 23 per cent of Gen Z and 19 per cent of Gen X.

Among Australians who use sunscreen, Baby Boomers were the most likely to say they had not used it at all in the previous eight months (17 per cent), compared with 5 per cent of Gen Z, 4 per cent of Millennials, and 7 per cent of Gen X.

Gen Z couple Zandri Oosthuizen, 22, and Francois Helberg, 24, said they always wore sunscreen if they planned to be outside for more than half an hour.

“Now that we’re going into summer I think we’re definitely a bit more conscious of it than we were over the last few months,” Mr Helberg said.

The pair said they had grown up with sun safety messages drilled into them at home and at school.

Mr Helberg said the schools they attended always had a ‘no hat, no play’ policy.

“There was not really any way around it, if you didn’t have your hat, you weren’t allowed outside,” he said.

Cancer Council Australia chief executive Jacinta Reddan said the research showed regular sun safety messaging remained essential across every age group.

“This research shows that every generation has its own sun safety blind spot,” she said. “While Australians are broadly aware of their skin cancer risk, many still have knowledge gaps that could increase their exposure to harmful UV radiation.

“We know that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer, and research has found that 50 per cent of lifetime UV exposure happens before age 20, showing that sun protection habits established today can help lower your risk of skin cancer tomorrow.

“Studies also tell us that children are 12 times more likely to use sunscreen and three times more likely to wear a hat when they see their parents do it first, further emphasising that the benefits of sun-safe habits can last a lifetime, especially when introduced early.”

Australasian College of Dermatologists president Arian Lim said skin cancers dermatologists diagnosed today were often the result of sun exposure from decades ago.

“So, while it’s encouraging to hear that younger people are using sun protection, there is a worrying trend re-emerging around tanning,” Dr Lim said.

“There’s no such thing as a safe tan. A tan is your skin’s response to UV damage, not a sign of health.

“And at every age, we encourage Australians to get to know their skin and if they notice any changes, to promptly visit their GP who may refer them to a dermatologist.”

Cancer Council’s national skin cancer committee chair Sally Blane urged Australians to use the UV Index as a guide for when to use sun protection.

“UV radiation cannot be seen or felt — it can damage skin even on cool or overcast days,” she said. “Checking the UV Index daily helps Australians know when levels are high enough to cause harm.”