Sunburn is the strongest risk factor for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Adolescent sunburns are related to higher risk of developing melanoma later in life. Little is known about the ...association of sunburns and shade, particularly tree cover, around adolescent homes and schools. This linkage study assessed associations of adolescent self-reported sunburns with ambient ultraviolet radiation (UV) and tree cover.
We analyzed a U.S. national sample of parent-child dyads (n = 1333) from the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study conducted by the National Cancer Institute. The outcome was adolescent sunburns reported for the previous 12 months. GIS buffers around geocoded home and school addresses were used to summarize UV and tree cover. A sensitivity analysis assessed different UV measures and tree cover buffer distances. Logistic regression models estimated the adjusted odds of any sunburns for five models: (1) no environmental variables; (2) spatial variables of latitude and longitude; (3) UV; (4) tree cover; and, (5) a combined model with UV and tree cover. Covariates included common sunburn-related items such as sun protective behaviors, socio-demographics, and latitude. Model residuals were assessed for spatial dependency and clustering.
Overall, 44% of adolescents reported any sunburns in the previous 12 months. For the bivariate associations, lower categories of UV were associated with any reported sunburns (p-trend = 0.002). Home tree cover was not associated with any reported sunburns (p-trend = 0.08), whereas schools with lower categories of tree cover were associated with sunburns (p-trend = 0.008). The adjusted odds of any sunburns by UV tertiles, as a linear tread, was 0.89 (0.76-1.05) (p = 0.17); school tree cover was: 0.91 (0.78-1.07) (p = 0.25). Neither UV nor tree cover, in a combined model, were significant. Sensitivity analyses resulted in the optimal buffer size of 200 m for summarizing tree cover. Spatial dependence of residuals was not significant and clustering was significant for about 6% or less of the sample in each model.
We did not find significant relationships between UV or tree cover and adolescent sunburns, when adjusted by sunburn-related covariates. Better contextual data about where sunburns occurred is needed to identify environmental correlates of sunburn.
Few studies have assessed the relationship between sunburn and risk of different skin cancers (melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) in prospective studies ...simultaneously, and little is known about the association of severe sunburns at different body sites with skin cancer risk. We used data on 87,166 women in the Nurses' Health Study (1982-2010) and 32,959 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1992-2010) to investigate skin cancer risk associated with history of severe sunburns at different body sites (face/arms, trunk, and lower limbs). After adjustment for other risk factors, overall baseline history of severe sunburn was more apparently associated with risk of melanoma than with risk of SCC and BCC in men (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 2.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32, 4.41) for melanoma, 1.48 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.03) for SCC, and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.32) for BCC) but not in women. Sunburn on the trunk appeared to be more closely associated with melanoma risk, but not risk of SCC and BCC, when compared with sunburns at other body sites (face/arms and lower limbs). These differences were more apparent in men than in women. Pending further investigation, our findings add novel insights to the existing literature on sunburn history and skin cancer risk.
The relationship between social media usage and the public's expressions of sunburn remains unexplored. This study is a content analysis of Twitter that was performed to identify the public's ...expressions, perceptions, and attitudes towards sunburn.
Qualitative content analysis was conducted on tweets by Australian Twitter users during January 2007 and January 2016. Out of 2,000 tweets available, in-depth content analysis of 200 random tweets was performed.
Tweets in this study were categorised into 10 distinct themes, three of which were cognitive (fact based) and seven affective (emotional), while one was miscellaneous. Results reveal that tweets about sunburn overwhelmingly contained affective as opposed to cognitive components. In addition, the sentiments contained in the affective tweets were frequently positively (68.9%) rather than negatively valanced (31.1%). While humour was the most common theme (n = 68 tweets), many tweets also expressed a link between Australian national identity and sunburn (n = 25 tweets).
Many of the tweets analysed contained positive affective sentiments such as joy, rather than worry or concern, suggesting an avenue for further health promotion research.
Background The manner in which consumers apply sunscreens is often inadequate for ultraviolet protection according to the labeled sun protection factor (SPF). Although sunscreen SPFs are labeled by ...testing at an application density of 2 mg/cm2 , the actual protection received is often substantially less because of consumer application densities ranging from 0.5 to 1 mg/cm2 . High-SPF sunscreens may provide more adequate protection even when applied by consumers at inadequate amounts. Objective We sought to measure the actual SPF values of various sunscreens (labeled SPF 30-100) applied in amounts typical of those used by consumers. Methods Actual SPF values were measured on human volunteers for 6 sunscreen products with labeled SPF values ranging from 30 to 100, applied at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg/cm2. Results There was a linear relationship between application density and the actual SPF; sunscreens with labeled SPF values of 70 and above provided significant protection, even at the low application densities typically applied by consumers. Sunscreens labeled SPF 70 and 100 applied at 0.5 mg/cm2 provided an actual SPF value of, respectively, 19 and 27. Limitations The study was conducted in a laboratory setting under standardized conditions and results are extrapolated to actual in-use situations. Conclusion Sunscreens with SPF 70 and above add additional clinical benefits when applied by consumers at typically used amounts, by delivering an actual SPF that meets the minimum SPF levels recommended for skin cancer and photodamage prevention. In contrast, sunscreens with SPF 30 or 50 may not produce sufficient protection at actual consumer usage levels.
Background
Increased risk of cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported among petroleum workers, but few studies include females, exposure data on ultraviolet radiation ...(UVR), and potential confounding factors. We aimed to examine UVR exposure in relation to risk of melanoma and SCC among male and female offshore petroleum workers. We also examined the association between UVR exposure and melanoma (Breslow) thickness.
Methods
The Norwegian Offshore Petroleum Workers (NOPW) cohort (n = 27,917) holds information on sunbathing, indoor tanning, sunburns, sunscreen use, and other lifestyle factors recorded in 1998. Linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway gave information on cancer diagnosis through 2017. We used Cox and logistic regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of skin cancer and odds ratios (OR) of thick (≥1 mm) melanomas, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Melanoma risk increased with increasing frequency of sunbathing after age 20 (ptrend = 0.031), sunburn average intensity (ptrend = 0.028), and sunscreen use (HR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.42 ‐3.27 for almost always vs. never/rarely). The risk of thick melanoma was inversely associated with sunbathing frequency after age 20 (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.16 ‐ 0.90 for ≥4 weeks/year vs. 1 week/year). SCC risk increased with increasing frequency of indoor tanning after age 20 (HR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.22 ‐ 6.05 for ≥3 times/months vs. never), sunburn average intensity (ptrend < 0.001), and sunscreen use (ptrend < 0.001).
Conclusions
Our results support associations between UVR exposure and skin cancer risk in male and female offshore petroleum workers. This occupational group may be especially relevant for targeted sun protection advice.
Sunburn increases skin cancer risk and is common among U.S. adults. However, little is known about the contexts in which sunburns often occur. The purpose of this study is to examine the contextual ...factors surrounding sunburns among U.S. adults.
Cross-sectional data from a 2018 online panel survey were analyzed. A total of 4,088 panel members were recruited by mail using probability-based, random sampling by address. Respondents were asked about their most recent sunburn, and analyses were limited to those who remembered their most recent sunburn (N=3,106). Data were weighted to match the U.S. Current Population Survey proportions; analyses were conducted in 2018 and 2019.
Participants’ age ranged from 18 to 93 years. About half (50.8%) were women, and most (82.3%) were non-Hispanic White adults. Swimming or spending time in water (32.5%), working outside at home (26.2%), traveling/vacationing (20.7%), and engaging in nonswimming physical activity (14.2%) were the most frequently reported activities. Using sunscreen on the face, neck, and chest (38.8%) and on the body (19.9%) and wearing sunglasses (34.2%) were the most frequently reported sun safety behaviors. Wearing clothes to the ankles (6.6%) and a long-sleeved shirt (4.5%) were least frequently reported.
This study provides new information about the contexts in which adult sunburns often occur, especially about contexts unrelated to intentional tanning, which was relatively infrequent. The results suggest the need to promote multiple forms of sun protection tailored to specific outdoor activities and develop innovative solutions for outdoor physical and aquatic activities, which present unique sun safety challenges.
To examine the change in sun protective behaviours and sunburn of Australians over a seven‐year period, in the context of sustained skin cancer prevention campaigns and programs.
Weekly ...cross‐sectional telephone interviews of Australians were conducted throughout summer in 2010/11 for comparison with 2003/04 and 2006/07. In 2010/11, n=1,367 adolescents (12–17 years) and n=5,412 adults (18–69 years) were interviewed about their sun‐related attitudes, weekend sun protection and sunburn. Multivariate analyses adjusted for key demographics, temperature, cloud, wind and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to assess change in outcomes over time.
There were consistent improvements in adolescents’ and adults’ attitudes, intentional tanning and incidence of sunburn over time. Behavioural changes were variable. Adults spent less time outdoors during peak UVR compared to past surveys, while adolescents were less likely to be outdoors compared with 2006/07. Sunscreen use and wearing of long sleeves increased among adults, but hat wearing decreased for both age groups, as did leg cover by adolescents since 2003/04. There has been a sustained decrease in weekend sunburn among adolescents and adults.
The findings suggest improvements in skin cancer prevention attitudes of Australians over time. Australians’ compliance with sun protection during summer has improved in some areas, but is still far from ideal. The sustained decrease in weekend sunburn among adolescents and adults is encouraging, but further improvements are required.
The aim of this study was to identify determinants of occupational sunburn in agricultural workers and assess their occupational and recreational sun protection habits.
Specific surveys of ...agricultural workers in Switzerland and France were conducted (N = 1538). Multivariate logistic regressions identified occupational sunburn determinants. Occupational and recreational sun protection habits were estimated and correlated.
One-year occupational and recreational sunburn prevalences were 19.8% and 11.5%, respectively. Occupational sunburn increased with having a recent recreational sunburn, highly sensitive skin, young age, high perceived skin cancer risk, using sunscreen, and not wearing a hat. Correlation between protection habits during work and leisure was substantial (rs 0.5 to 0.7). Skin health knowledge was high and pro-tanning attitude moderate.
Potentially modifiable sunburn determinants and suboptimal recreational and occupational sun protection practices were identified in agricultural workers. Refining and tailoring sun protection messages targeting the agricultural sector are needed.
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