title: Sun exposure and sun protection habits in high school students from a city south of the country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective solar protection is an uncommon practice among young people, increasing the likelihood of sunburn, sunstroke and skin cancers. This fact is more significant in the south of Brazil, where the prevalence of white skinned population is larger, being more prone to sun damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the practices of sun exposure and sun protection in high school students from the city of Carlos Barbosa - RS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study involving 775 students, enrolled on the first half of 2010, who had signed the consent form. We used a non-identifiable, self-administered questionnaire, with questions about related topics. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square or Fisher exact and t-Student tests. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under the number 2010-115H.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most students are exposed to the sun at the more critical periods, remaining exposed for more than an hour. Five hundred and seventy-six students (74,3%) reported using sunscreen, but less than 10% did it during all months of the year. Female teenagers are most likely to use sunscreen (p <0.001) and to spend less time exposed to sunlight (p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most high school students from Carlos Barbosa had unsuitable sun exposure and sun protection habits, characterizing a high risk behavior for skin diseases. The existence of public programs for clarification of the risks to the population and the subsidization of sun protection products were suggested by these young people.
authors.affiliation: Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas, RS, Brazil. dupont.leticia@gmail.com
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Denise Neves
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents