Comprehensive Summary
The following study investigates whether AI-based facial skin aging simulation can motivate healthier UV-protection behaviors and reduce risk-taking attitudes toward tanning. Conducted at the University Hospital of Basel, this single-center, prospective, observational pilot study enrolled 60 healthy young female participants with a mean age of 23.6 years. Participants’ facial photographs were captured using the VISIA-CR camera, and an AI-driven simulation of facial aging up to age 80 was presented. Before and after viewing their simulated-aged images, participants completed detailed questionnaires on tanning habits, sunscreen use, and UV risk perception, with a follow-up survey conducted 2 years later. The results revealed significant behavior shifts: 91.7% of participants reported stronger motivation to reduce UV exposure, and perceived personal UV risk increased markedly (p<0.001). Preference for SPF 50+ sunscreens rose from 30% pre-intervention to 46.7% post-intervention, and to 60% after two years. Nearly all participants (96%) reported maintaining improved UV-protection habits long-term.
Outcomes and Implications
The study demonstrated that AI-assisted skin aging simulation can serve as a powerful, appearance-based intervention for primary skin cancer prevention. By allowing individuals to visualize premature photoaging, the intervention effectively shifts perception from distant health risk to immediate aesthetic impact-a crucial psychological driver for behavior change in young adults. The sustained behavior improvements observed at two years suggest that AI-supported educational tools can generate lasting preventive effects. This approach could complement traditional health campaigns by leveraging emotional and visual engagement to increase sunscreen use and reduce tanning frequency among at-risk populations. While the pilots’ single-center design and homogenous cohort limit generalizability, their success highlights the public health potential of scalable, personalized, AI-driven prevention campaigns. Future work integrating similar simulations into mobile health applications could promote broader adoption and deliver cost-effective, digitally enhanced strategies for reducing skin cancer incidence worldwide.