Sunscreen use and sun exposure. Trends in a white population.

Four hundred eighty-nine patients were surveyed during the summer months to evaluate their sun-exposure habits and beliefs, and their use of sunscreens. Seventy-one percent had one or more hours of sun exposure on at least one day per week. Men had more sun exposure than women. Subjects 30 years old and younger spent more time in the sun than those older than 30 years. Subjects with skin types 1 and 2 were least frequently sun exposed and tended to use sunscreens most often. Overall, sunscreens were used by 41% of the subjects, one third of whom used them with the belief that tanning would be promoted. In a four-week follow-up evaluation, 342 patients were contacted by telephone. Knowledge of the sun protection factor and sun-exposure risks was improved, presumably by reading an informational pamphlet provided; but sunscreen use improved very little.