#16: Sunbathing Like Nobody’s Business

This one might actually be the only good change on the list. In the past, people weren’t as aware of the risks of sunbathing without wearing sunscreen. Previously unnoticed, this practice has left baby boomers facing alarming statistics. Data from Cancer Research U.K. reveals that individuals in their sixties and seventies are now over five times more likely to encounter a severe form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, due to past sun exposure without adequate protection.

Despite improvements in sun protection awareness among younger generations, resulting in declining melanoma rates, baby boomers are experiencing an alarming increase. This surge is largely attributed to a historical lack of awareness and the absence of UVA protection in sunscreens until the 1990s. As a result, these older generations are now confronting the consequences of their youthful disregard for proper sun protection.