In spite of years of public health messages, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that barely one third of Americans use sunscreen on a regular basis.
Researchers for the CDC found that sunscreen is most often used by women on the skin of the face and by people with a higher household income. The cost of sunscreen may be a barrier to use, said Dawn Holman, lead author of the study and behavioral scientist with the CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in Chamblee, Georgia.
Based on an online survey conducted during the summer 2013 of more than 4,000 adults, researchers found that 18% of men and 43% of women use sunscreen on the face always or most of the time when outside on a sunny day for more than hour. About 20% of men and 34% of women do the same for other areas of exposed skin.
"The low sunscreen use we observed among men is consistent with other studies that found men may view sunscreen as too feminine, and the low sunscreen use among non-whites may indicate low perceived susceptibility to sun damage and skin cancer," Holman says.
Only 36% of Hispanic women and 15% of non-Hispanic black women used sunscreen on their faces, while only 16% of Hispanic men and 4% of non-Hispanic black men used sunscreen.
It seems Americans aren't the only ones in the world that are guilty of forgetting proper sun protection. According to Holman, most adults in other countries also do not use sunscreen regularly. Among both men and women were diagnosed with skin cancer the previous year, 71% of women and 30% of men used sunscreen on their faces.
In the U.S. survey, researchers found that those with sun-sensitive skin, higher household income and more frequent aerobic activity were more likely to use sunscreen. Of the people that do use sunscreen, between 50% and 60% used SPF 15 to 49 on their face or body, but more than 10% didn't even know the SPF of their product. Almost 40% of the people didn't know if the product they use provides broad-spectrum protection, which blocks both UVA rays that age skin and UVB rays that burn it.
The survey didn't ask if users reapplied sunscreen when outside for long periods of time.
"Solid data indicate this practice would decrease wrinkling, skin discoloration, and development of skin cancers," says Dr. Henry W. Lim of the dermatology department at Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. He was not part of the new study.
"While the texture of sunscreens has improved, many still do not like the 'feel' of having a somewhat greasy product on the skin. Some (products) may also cause mild stinging of eyes if it gets to the eyes as one sweats."
"The most immediate benefit of using sunscreen is that it will help you avoid getting sunburned when spending time outdoors," Holman says. "In the long term, regular sunscreen can help prevent premature skin aging such as wrinkles and age spots."
