WASHINGTON – While the use of sun protection measures became more common between 2000 and 2010, there was not a corresponding decrease in sunburns, according to an analysis of national data.
Overall among women, staying in the shade, using sunscreen, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased significantly over time by 5%, 6%, and 5%, respectively, between 2000 and 2010. Similarly, among men, staying in the shade, sunscreen use, and wearing clothing to the ankles increased by 7%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. However, the overall prevalence of sunburn did not change significantly over those years. In 2010, 51% of women and 49% of men reported having at least one sunburn in the past year. The results come from a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology.
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Among women, using sunscreen (37%) and staying in the shade (35%) were the most common reported sun protective behaviors in 2010. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt (5%) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (4%) were the least common.
The rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers have increased in recent years. Monitoring and reporting sun-protective behaviors and sunburns over time are important ways to measure the impact of skin cancer prevention activity and to track progress toward Healthy People 2020 objectives, noted lead author Dawn M. Holman and her coinvestigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To estimate how commonly people engage in these behaviors that protect against sun exposure, the researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey – Cancer Control Supplement, for years 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010. The survey assessed the following behaviors as related to sun protection and sunburn: use of sunscreen, staying in the shade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and wearing long clothing to the ankles. Respondents reported their use as being: always, most of the time, sometimes, rarely, or never for each item. Respondents were also asked about the number of sunburns they’ve had in the last year.
Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Analyses were limited to those aged 18-29 years – age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. population. The researchers estimated the percentage who reported engaging in each behavior always or most of the time and the percentage reporting one or more sunburns in the past year overall, by gender and by race/ethnicity.
Among women, using sunscreen (37%) and staying in the shade (35%) were the most common reported protective behaviors in 2010. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt (5%) and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (4%) were the least common. Black women were significantly less likely to report sunscreen use than were other racial/ethnic groups.
Among men, wearing long clothing to the ankles (33%) and staying in the shade (26%) were the most commonly reported behaviors in 2010. Fewer men reported using sunscreen (16%), wearing a long-sleeved shirt (8%), and wearing a wide-brimmed hat (7%). Of note, sunburn was significantly more common among non-Hispanic whites, compared with other racial/ethnic groups.
The results point to the "need for continued public health efforts to facilitate sun protection by: creating environments that support protective behaviors and by changing social norms regarding tanning and tanned skin. Facilitating sun protection may prevent sunburns and future increases in the burden of skin cancer," the researchers wrote.
The authors did not report whether they had any relevant financial interests.