BACKGROUND Originally developed to protect against sunburn, sunscreen has been assumed to prevent skin cancer. However, conflicting reports include claims that sunscreen increases risk for melanoma. OBJECTIVE To examine the strength and consistency of associations between melanoma and sunscreen use in the published literature. DATA SOURCES A comprehensive MEDLINE search of articles publishe...

OBJECTIVES To measure the thickness at which primary schoolchildren apply sunscreen on school day mornings and to compare it with the thickness (2.00 mg/cm(2)) at which sunscreen is tested during product development, as well as to investigate how application thickness was influenced by age of the child (school grades 1-7) and by dispenser type (500-mL pump, 125-mL squeeze bottle, or 50-mL roll-...

1 This educational resource summarises recent developments in sunscreen research, knowledge, and use. It starts with a review of the Nambour Skin Cancer Prevention Trial, which contributes to the evidence for a protective effect of sunscreen against melanoma. This is followed by consideration of UVA protection, correct application of sunscreen, skin type in sun protection, and compliance with s...

BACKGROUND Sunscreen use and dietary antioxidants are advocated as preventives of skin aging, but supporting evidence is lacking. OBJECTIVE To determine whether regular use of sunscreen compared with discretionary use or β-carotene supplements compared with placebo retard skin aging, measured by degree of photoaging. DESIGN Randomized, controlled, community-based intervention. (Australian N...

This study employs focus group methodology to explore gender differences in sunscreen use. Guided by the theory of reasoned action, males and females were found to differ on each of the following constructs: behavior, behavioral beliefs, and normative beliefs. Males and females differed in their sunscreen use, with females adopting a more preventive style of sunscreen use and males a more react...

INTRODUCTION Use of sunscreen is encouraged to reduce the risk of skin pathologies caused by radiation. It is important to acknowledge the associated factors that promote or hinder sunscreen use in young populations as to design better prevention policies. OBJECTIVE To determine the factors associated with regular sunscreen use among first year medical students from a Peruvian university. M...

This study compares a motivational skin cancer prevention approach with a volitional planning and self-efficacy intervention to enhance regular sunscreen use. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted with 205 women (mean age 25 years) in three groups: motivational; volitional; and control. Sunscreen use, action planning, coping planning and coping self-efficacy were assessed at three p...

Since photoaging of skin is caused by chronic sun exposure, it is well-recognized that regular sunscreen use can help prevent photoaging of skin in fair-skinned people. Therefore, application of sunscreen is recommended for the prevention of photoaging in many countries. However, the relationship between UV exposure and photoaging has rarely been investigated in clinical studies in Japan. In ad...

Taking an alcohol swab of a person’s forearm and analyzing it using a spectrophotometer has been shown to be a reliable method for detecting the presence of sunscreen. The aims of this study were to determine if moisturizing lotions or other non-sunscreen products influence the absorbance readings from skin swabs in a controlled setting, and to establish the cutoff point in determining the pres...

Many primary care providers advise patients to use sunscreen as a means to reduce their risk for skin cancer, especially cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). Despite the availability and promotion of sunscreen for decades, the incidence of CMM continues to increase in the U.S. at a rate of 3% per year. There currently is little evidence that sunscreens are protective against CMM. A number of stu...