Free sunscreen dispensers in La Rochelle: should the idea be made more widespread?

The weather is mild for this holiday. It's still very hot across most of the country, with temperatures reaching 30°C in the southeast. But don't forget to protect yourself from UV rays. Each year, up to 240,000 skin cancers are diagnosed.

To raise awareness of these issues, La Rochelle City Hall has decided to install automatic sunscreen dispensers on several of its beaches. A 200-milliliter bottle costs around fifteen euros.

There are only about twenty dermatologists in La Rochelle . It takes, on average, about a hundred days to get an appointment. This wait has doubled compared to 2007. According to Public Health France, the incidence of skin cancer has been steadily increasing for the past 30 years.

A renewed system after a successful experiment last summer. While the sun is blazing on the beaches of La Rochelle, tubes of sunscreen are out. And for those who are forgetful, there's now a vending machine. A very good idea, according to Lydie:

"I have a little boy who I take to the beach quite a bit because we live in La Rochelle, so I pay close attention to his exposure. They say it's every two hours, so it's true that we tend to use quite a bit."

Never enough, according to Clémence. This general practitioner is spending the weekend in La Rochelle and she also welcomes the initiative. "We often don't apply the right amount of cream at all. A line of sunscreen that goes from the top of your finger to the bottom of your palm is the right amount for your entire face."

For families, it's also a savings, as cream is becoming increasingly expensive. Gaelle, a mother of three, says: "We looked at the prices earlier. It's quite exorbitant, so it's a good idea."

These three vending machines cost the municipality and the League Against Cancer €4,000. That's not much, according to Delphine Charrière, deputy health minister: "It doesn't ruin the community, and when you consider the cost of cancer treatment, I think it's an investment we can afford." As a reminder, 80% of skin cancers are caused by overexposure to the sun.