Sunscreen Use Related to UV Exposure, Age, Sex, and Occupation Based on Personal Dosimeter Readings and Sun-Exposure Behavior Diaries

Objectives To examine during what behaviors people apply sunscreen and to assess the relationship to UV exposure monitored by personal dosimetry and diaries. Design Open prospective observational study. Setting University hospital. Participants A convenience sample of 340 Danish volunteers: children, adolescents, indoor workers, sun worshippers, golfers, and gardeners (age range, 4-68 years). Intervention Subjects recorded sunscreen use and sun-exposure behavior in diaries and carried personal, electronic UV dosimeters, measuring time-stamped UV doses continuously, during a median of 119 days covering 346 sun-years (1 sun-year equals 1 subject participating during 1 summer season). Main Outcome Measures Associations between sunscreen use and age, sex, skin type, occupation, sunburn, UV exposure doses, and behavior; and adequate application density and sun protection factor required to prevent sunburn. Results There were great variations in sunscreen use, which was highly correlated with risk behavior (sunbathing or exposing the upper body) ( r  = 0.39; P P P P ≤.03) and on sunburn days ( P 2 . Conclusion Days with sunscreen correlated not with days without risk behavior, but with days “sunbathing with the intention to tan,” indicating that sunscreens were used as tanning aids to avoid sunburn.