Most people visit a barber simply to get a haircut, trim a beard, or enjoy a quick chat. Few would expect their barber to play a role in protecting their health.
However, new research suggests that barbers may be in a unique position to help prevent one of the most common forms of cancer.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom have found that barbers could become important partners in the fight against skin cancer. Their study suggests that barbers may help encourage men to protect themselves from the sun and may even help identify suspicious changes on the skin that deserve medical attention.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United Kingdom, and the number of cases continues to rise every year. Scientists estimate that almost nine out of ten cases are linked to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet rays damage skin cells over time, and repeated damage can eventually lead to cancer.
Many people assume that skin cancer is only a problem in hot and sunny countries. However, experts say this is not true. Even in the United Kingdom, where the weather is often cloudy, harmful ultraviolet radiation can still damage the skin.
People can receive significant sun exposure during everyday activities such as walking, gardening, exercising, or simply spending time outdoors.
Men face a particularly high risk. Researchers estimate that around one in four men in the United Kingdom will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. A large number of these cancers occur on the head and neck because these areas are often exposed to sunlight and may be forgotten when people apply sunscreen.
This is where barbers may have an unexpected advantage. Barbers regularly see parts of the body that customers cannot easily examine themselves. During haircuts, barbers often have a clear view of the scalp, ears, neck, and the back of the head. They may notice unusual spots, moles, or changes in the skin that their customers have never seen.
The study was conducted in Portsmouth, where melanoma rates are about 35 percent higher than the average rate in England. Researchers surveyed barbers throughout the city to understand their own sun protection habits and their willingness to become involved in skin cancer prevention.
The results were encouraging. More than half of the barbers surveyed said they would be willing to discuss sunscreen and sun protection with customers in the future. More than one-third said they would consider selling sunscreen products in their shops, and around one-quarter said they would consider applying sunscreen to customers after a haircut.
At the time of the study, no participating barbershops sold sunscreen products. Only a small number regularly discussed sun protection with customers, and very few had ever applied sunscreen to clients. However, the willingness to become more involved suggests that barbershops could become valuable places for public health education.
Researchers also found an interesting pattern. Barbers who regularly used sunscreen themselves were much more likely to talk about sun protection with customers and were more willing to do so in the future. This suggests that improving sun awareness among barbers may also encourage them to pass on these messages to others.
The study was published in the journal Skin Health and Disease. The findings add to growing evidence that barbershops can serve as community health centers in unexpected ways.
In previous programs, barbers have helped deliver messages about mental health, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer awareness, particularly among men who may be less likely to seek medical advice.
Building on these findings, researcher Fleming will distribute 1,000 bottles of free sunscreen to barbershops across Portsmouth during June 2026, when ultraviolet levels in the United Kingdom are at their highest. The project will allow barbers to offer sunscreen immediately after haircuts and encourage more conversations about protecting the skin.
An analysis of the findings suggests that this idea has significant promise. The study highlights how simple conversations in trusted community settings may encourage healthier behaviors. Because many skin cancers are preventable, even small increases in sunscreen use and awareness could have meaningful benefits.
However, the study mainly measured willingness rather than actual behavior, so future research will need to determine whether these conversations lead to lasting changes and lower cancer rates. Even so, the research presents a creative and practical approach to public health by turning an ordinary haircut into an opportunity for cancer prevention.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about top signs of diabetic skin disease, and Mediterranean diet could help lower the skin cancer risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about eating fish linked to higher risk of skin cancer, and results showing how to combat the effects of aging on your skin.
Source: University of Portsmouth.
