Beach holiday sunburn: the sunscreen paradox and gender differences.
A survey about sunbathing practices was performed on a summer holiday weekend at a Galveston beach. The likelihood of sunburn increased with increasing duration of sun exposure, with 100% of subjects experiencing sunburn after exposure > or = 4.5 hours. Men exhibited a significantly higher frequency of sunburn, employed fewer sun-protective measures, and demonstrated less knowledge concerning sun safety information and skin cancer than women. This information suggests a need for greater educational efforts directed toward changing public attitudes about preventing sunburn, especially those of men, that currently lead to high-risk sunbathing behavior.
McCarthy
E M
EM
Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0783, USA.
Ethridge
K P
KP
Wagner
R F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006370:Heliotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D013473:Sunscreening Agents