AAD 2025 Survey: Gen Z Keeps Forgetting Sunscreen - Here's How to Fix the Gaps
Forgetting sunscreen and shrugging off sunburns is a Gen Z pattern with real consequences - here's how to close the most common gaps the AAD found.
A May 2025 AAD survey found half of Gen Z adults reported being sunburned in 2024 (10% with blistering burns), 64% said they often forget to apply sunscreen, and only 34% identified skin cancer prevention as sunscreen's main benefit.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends making sunscreen a daily habit and reapplying every two hours when outdoors, since forgetting and under-applying are the most common protection gaps. Dermatologists frame consistency, not the perfect product, as the deciding factor.
Questions we get a lot
How many people admit to forgetting sunscreen?
In the AAD's May 2025 survey, 64% of respondents said they often forget to apply sunscreen. The same survey found half of Gen Z adults were sunburned in 2024, including 10% with blistering burns. Forgetting and under-applying are among the biggest gaps in real-world sun protection.
What's the easiest way to stop forgetting sunscreen?
Attach it to a habit you already do every morning, like brushing your teeth or moisturizing, and keep a bottle where you'll see it. The AAD encourages making daily sunscreen a routine and reapplying every two hours outdoors. Building the cue into your existing routine is more reliable than relying on memory.
Are blistering sunburns a big deal?
Yes - a blistering burn signals severe UV overexposure, and the AAD's 2025 survey found 10% of Gen Z adults had one in 2024. Severe and repeated sunburns are associated with higher skin cancer risk later in life. Preventing burns through consistent protection is the goal.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'I genuinely just forget sunscreen most days - what actually works to make it a habit?'