Does sunscreen use comply with official recommendations? Results of a nationwide survey in Germany

Abstract

Background The use of sunscreen can reduce the risk of UV-induced skin lesions. Health authorities have provided recommendations for the correct use of sunscreen use: Sufficient amount of sunscreen should be applied at least 30 min before the sun exposure and should be reapplied every 2 h.Objective We aimed to research the practice of sunscreen use in a population-based and representative sample in Germany. Methods For this cross-sectional survey, 3000 German residents aged 14-45 years were surveyed in standardized telephone interviews in 2018. Survey participants provided data on the frequency of sunscreen use in summer, timing of (re-)application and their skin characteristics. The data were weighted by age, sex, educational level and federal state to ensure the national representativeness of the sample.Results Overall, 79.4% of respondents used sunscreen always, often or sometimes when being exposed to the sun. However, 87.2% of sunscreen users did not follow the recommendations on timing of application, 59.5% did not comply with the timing of reapplication. We also saw, that people potentially used too little sunscreen. These data did not differ noticeably by skin types of participants. Conclusion Our study revealed deficits in use of sunscreen in Germany, indicating that people here pay little attention to the recommendations of health authorities, regardless of their skin type. There is therefore an urgent need for targeted public information on this issue. Improving public knowledge on correct sunscreen use through educational campaigns or individual counselling by health professionals could be a first step.

Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants

“…Since sunscreen use was the most common protective measure in our sample, parents should also be certain that they and their children use it correctly. A previous study from our research group showed deficits in the sunscreen use in the adult population [33], which also can lead to the occurrence of sunburn. These aspects should also be focused in information materials for parents/guardians.…”

“…Thus, our data does not provide information on whether sunscreen use was in line with recommendations (e.g., kind of product, SPF, timing of application). Our previous survey showed, however, that sunscreen use in adults often did not comply with recommendations regarding timing of (re-)application and amount of sunscreen applied to the skin [33]. Therefore, it is important to address these aspects of sunscreen use in future studies focusing on children.…”

Expert Consensus on Sunscreen for the Primary Prevention of Skin Cancer: Results of the Skin Cancer Prevention Working Group Conference

“…swimming, excess friction from clothing or sand). [54][55][56] However, some of this loss of effectiveness may be offset through the usage of higher SPF sunscreens may partially compensate for poor application technique and adherence. 57,58 Underutilization is often exacerbated by additional barriers including: increased application challenges, poor comprehension of the risk of extensive UVR exposure, belief that tan skin appeared healthier, belief that sunscreen was harmful to the skin, or belief that sunscreens negatively impacts systemic vitamin D levels.…”

An evaluation of the course of facial sunscreen coverage and sustainability over an 8‐hour workday among outdoor workers

“…The recommendation suggests using a broad‐spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and the amount applied should be 2 mg/cm 2 to achieve the labeled level of sun protection. 2 , 3 , 4 However, the range of sunscreen applied in a real‐life setting was reported to be only 0.39 to 0.79 mg/cm 2 . 5 , 6 …”