SUNSCREENS : Use and Misuse - 09/09/11
Résumé |
Sunscreens are in common use, with more than half of the public buying or using sunscreens within a 3-year period.32 Sun avoidance and regular sunscreen use are widely promoted by organizations and individuals interested in cancer prevention; however, 70% of those who participated in a beach survey were on the beach to get or maintain a suntan.57 Although they stayed on the beach for an average of 4 hours, only half were using sunscreen.
There appears to be some confusion in the public health sunscreen message or in the public's interpretation of that message. Some use sunscreens to prevent sunburn, whereas others use sunscreens to improve sun tanning. Some wish to avoid the wrinkling associated with sun exposure, whereas others believe that sunscreens prevent all types of skin cancer. Others seem to believe sunscreens should be used to prolong their time in the sun.
Despite, or conceivably because of, the confusing message, sunscreen use remains sporadic. The majority of male college students in North Carolina “rarely, if ever, use sunscreens.”50 Fewer than 10% of the students used sunscreens in each instance of intentional sun exposure exceeding 30 minutes. In a study of more than 10,000 subjects, fewer than one third were very likely to use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, or seek shade.21 Despite past sunburn experience, skiers often do not use sunscreens. A springtime survey in of skiers in Alberta showed that only two thirds were using sunscreen, and of those using a sunscreen, one third were sunburned at the time of survey.28 Even in situations of high sunburn risk, sunscreen use is less than ideal.
Sunscreen use is perhaps most prevalent in Australia where three fourths of adult patients visiting a family physician reported using a sunscreen.31 Indeed, sunscreen use was more popular than seeking shade, altering the time of day of exposure, or wearing covering clothing. The reverse priority sequence is commonly recommended by public health authorities.
Childhood exposure to the sun continues to be significant. Past experience of sunburn is a more significant determinant of childhood sunscreen use than other concerns.56 Despite this fact, only one third of U.K. parents regularly protect their children from the midday sun, and approximately half of their children burn at least once a year.7 Early childhood exposure continues to be significant, with estimates that children aged 9 to 10 years sustain even more exposure than adolescents aged 14 to 15 years.11
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Plan
| Address reprint requests to David I. McLean, MD, 835 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4E8 |
Vol 16 - N° 2
P. 219-226 - avril 1998 Retour au numéro
Article précédent
- PREFACE
- DAVID I. MCLEAN, STUART MADDIN
- THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF LONG-TERM PUVA PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY
- T. Khosrow Momtaz, Thomas B. Fitzpatrick
Bienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
L’accès au texte intégral de cet article nécessite un abonnement.
Déjà abonné à cette revue ?