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Do people who apply sunscreens, re‐apply them?
Author(s) -
Pruim Bert,
Wright Lynette,
Green Adèle
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-0960.1999.00325.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sunscreening agents , sun protection , sun protection factor , skin cancer , sun exposure , sunbathing , dermatology , demography , cancer , sociology
Little is known about Australians’ practices regarding sunscreen re‐application, yet it is routinely advised and has recently been shown to increase the protective efficacy of sunscreens. A baseline survey of sunscreen application and re‐application behaviour was therefore conducted in a Queensland community using a standard self‐administered questionnaire. Other sun protection methods were also assessed. Of a total of 669 adult respondents, 76% reported using sunscreen and of those, 61% reported re‐applying sunscreen. Significantly more women (66%) than men (53%) reported re‐applying sunscreen and re‐application was inversely related to age (79% of those aged less than 45, 57% of those 45–59 years old and 46% of those over 60 years). Increased rates of re‐application were reported during times of increased sun exposure, as well as by those with greater knowledge of the benefits of sunscreen re‐application. A recent personal history of non‐melanoma skin cancer did not lead to improved rates of sunscreen application, sunscreen re‐application, or most forms of physical sun protection.