Females and adolescents are more likely to get a sunburn, according to data collected by a Danish study.
Sunburns play an important role in the development of skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma. To assess when sunburns occur and who experiences them, 340 study participants wore wristwatch UV radiation dosimeters to record sun exposure. They also kept sun exposure diaries.
The researchers found sunburn was mostly likely to occur:
- On a person’s day off work.
- While partaking in risky sun behavior like sunbathing.
- In May, June or July.
- On days participants were in the sun for an average of about six hours, with about three of those hours between noon and 3 p.m.
- In adolescents, sun worshippers and indoor workers, instead of children, golfers, and gardeners.
- In females, due to more days with sun risk behavior.
Persons had the highest UVR dose on sunburn days with risk behavior. Adolescents and younger adults had the most sunburn days, the most risk-behavior days, and the most exposure hours between noon and 3 p.m. and thus accumulated the highest UR dose, the researchers write.
They conclude, Campaigns to prevent sunburn should aim at reducing the number of days with risk behavior and be directed at adolescents, young adults, and sun worshippers.
SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, 2005;141:482-488