ST. LOUIS — Higher income, binge drinking, and student status are all independent risk factors for sunburn, Tamu Brown reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology.
“We suggest targeting young adults, students, and those with higher socioeconomic status for preventive measures,” said Ms. Brown, a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Not only is sunburn a significant risk factor for melanoma, it has significant economic impact, Ms. Brown said. A 2003 study published in the Archives of Dermatology concluded that sunburn might account for as many as 93,000 lost workdays each year in Galveston, Tex., alone (2003;139:1003–6).
Ms. Brown analyzed data from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationwide telephone survey administered annually by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the survey, sunburn was defined as sun exposure that left even a small portion of the skin reddened for at least 24 hours.
The 2003 survey included more than 248,000 people; the respondents' mean age was 45 years. Of those, almost 34% reported having had at least one sunburn within the past 12 months; 22% reported have had two sunburns; 13% reported three sunburns; and 8% reported four or more.
The highest prevalence of sunburn occurred in those aged 18–24 years (49%). Compared with respondents aged 45–55, this represented an increased risk of 2.6.
Student status and higher socioeconomic status were also associated with an increased risk of sunburn, Ms. Brown said. Respondents with a college degree had an increased risk of 1.6, compared with those with a high school diploma. Those making more than $50,000 per year had an increased risk of 2.7, compared with those making less than $20,000 per year. Students had an increased risk of 1.4, compared with those who were unemployed.
Alcohol consumption—particularly binge drinking (more than five drinks per day anytime within the past 30 days)—was also a risk factor. The association with smoking was statistically significant but of a low magnitude, she added.