Dark Side of Tanning

Although adults are behaving more responsibly in the sun, adolescents aren't absorbing the SunSmart message with the same enthusiasm.

Research reveals that 48% of WA adolescents continue to favour a suntan, with more females attempting to tan than males. On average, 20% of WA adolescents are still getting sunburnt on summer weekends.

The Dark Side of Tanning campaign was developed by the Cancer Institue NSW, and was run for the first time in WA over the 2009/2010 summer months. The campaign challenges the belief that a tan is healthy and prompts adolescents to reconsider their use of sun protection. It demonstrates the dangers of tanning and shows how exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Watch the 30 sec TV commercials

View other campaign material

• Dark Side of Tanning poster - Boy (pdf, 2.4MB)
• Dark Side of Tanning poster - Girl (pdf, 1.8MB)
• Dark Side of Tanning Campaign Summary (pdf, 54KB)

Listen to the radio commercial

Listen to the 30sec radio commercial:      

(please use the following link if you have an ipad  SunSmart 30 second radio commercial (1.2MB))

More Information

More information about the campaign is available from the Dark Side of Tanning website.