title: Sunburn related to UV radiation exposure, age, sex, occupation, and sun bed use based on time-stamped personal dosimetry and sun behavior diaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess when sunburn occurs and who experiences sunburn by personal UV dosimetry and diaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open prospective observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 340 Danish volunteers: children, adolescents, indoor workers, sun worshippers, golfers, and gardeners (age range, 4-68 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects recorded sunburn and sun-exposure behavior in diaries and carried personal, electronic, wristwatch UV radiation (UVR) dosimeters that measured time-stamped UVR doses continuously for a median of 119 days covering 346 sun-years (1 sun-year equals 1 subject participating during 1 summer half-year).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A typical sunburn day was a day off work (91%; odds ratio, 4.1) with risk behavior (sunbathing/exposing shoulders) (79%; odds ratio, 15.9) in May, June, or July (90%) for 6.4 exposure hours (interquartile range, 5-7.7 hours), of which 2.8 hours fell between noon and 3 pm. Subjects had a median of 1 sunburn per sun-year; adolescents, sun worshippers, and indoor workers had more than children, golfers, and gardeners (P<.05). Sunburn peaked at age 20 years, and female subjects had more sunburns than male subjects (P<.01). Skin type IV had fewer sunburns than types I through III (P<.01). Sunburned persons had more risk-behavior days and lower skin type (P<.01) than nonsunburned persons. The median UVR doses received were significantly higher on sunburn days than on nonsunburn days with risk behavior (P<.01). There was a significant correlation between sunburn size and severity; sunburn and sunscreen use; and sunburn and sun-bed use (P<.01 for all 3 comparisons).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sunburn was highly correlated with risk behavior. Reduction of risk-behavior days and/or exposure hours around noon can reduce sunburn. Sunburn was not found during breaks on normal full-time indoor work or school days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. et01@bbh.hosp.dk
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thieden
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Philipsen
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandby-Møller
authors.forename: Hans Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wulf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006370:Heliotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010358:Patient Participation; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents