Identifying sunscreen deserts in Cuyahoga County.

Low sunscreen use in patients of color (POC) is multifactorial and could be partially attributable to lack of access or the lack of knowledge about its use beyond skin cancer prevention. Dyschromia is among the top diagnoses for POC and sunscreen is first-line management. POC and lower socioeconomic status often face health disparities and are susceptible to having difficulty accessing food, health care, and medication. We look to see if they extend to sunscreen access by evaluating physical retailers. This study investigated sunscreen access by identifying potential sunscreen deserts and characterizing sunscreen availability and affordability in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Sunscreen deserts were defined as census tracts that were both low-income and low-access, adapted from the definition of food deserts. Google Maps search of "sunscreen" and "sunscreen store" in Cuyahoga County identified sunscreen retailers to geocode addresses. Total number and average cost of sunscreens were collected for each retailer and compared by community type. Fisher exact test, analysis of variance, and logistic regression were used for analysis. One hundred forty-six retailers were included in analysis of four hundred twenty-one census tracts in the county. Sixty-seven tracts met the definition of sunscreen desert. Majority White tracts were less likely to be deserts and had more sunscreen formulations, than Majority Black tracts (p < 0.001). The majority of sunscreen deserts were in predominantly black communities, which had fewer stores and sunscreen formulations available. These findings indicate a lack of sunscreen available to a demographic of patients that could benefit from increased access, as it would help manage hyperpigmentation.

Long-Term Benefits of Daily Photo-Protection With a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen in United States Hispanic Female Population.

aThe Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA bDepartment of Dermatology, Howard University, Washington, DC cL’Oreal Research and Innovation, Paris, France dL’Oreal Research and Innovation, Clark, NJ.

Correlates of sun protection behaviors among Hispanic children residing in a high UVR environment.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Rates of melanoma are rising in Hispanics in the United States. Excessive sun exposure in childhood increases the risk of melanoma in adulthood, and little is known about the factors motivating sun protection behaviors among Hispanic youth. METHODS: Correlates of sun protection were examined among Hispanic children residing in Los Angeles, California (N = 1891). Associations between multiple constructs (psychosocial, familial, and cultural) and sun protection outcomes (use of sunscreen, protective clothing, and shade seeking/sun avoidance) were examined. RESULTS: Family variables were associated with more frequent sun protection among Hispanic children across outcomes, as were perceived peer norms, perceived self-efficacy, and fewer sun protection barriers. Skin cancer risk factors such as lighter skin and sunburn experience, and level of acculturation were not associated with greater sun protection. CONCLUSION: Family sun protection habits are instrumental to Hispanic children's sun safe behaviors, and interventions that engage the family may be most effective. Increasing risk communication to high-risk subgroups of Hispanic children (those with lighter, more sun reactive skin) is important when developing intervention strategies. However, there is overlap between Hispanic children's sun protection correlates and those observed among non-Hispanic white children, suggesting that interventions to improve sun protection may generalize across cultural contexts.

The Association Between Urinary Benzophenone Concentrations and Personal Care Product Use in Korean Adults.

Benzophenone (BP) derivatives are widely used in personal care products (PCPs) for protection from ultraviolet radiation. Because of their broad applications, BP derivatives have been found in various human bodily fluids. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between urinary concentrations of BP derivatives and PCP use in Korean adults. A urinary BP biomonitoring survey was conducted in Korea by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2014. BP derivatives (BP-1, BP-3, and 4-OH-BP) were measured in urine samples from 168 Korean adults (mean age, 43.2 ± 15.4 years) by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Information about the use of PCPs in the past 7 days was obtained by direct interviews. The mean levels of BP-1, BP-3, and 4-OH-BP were 0.87, 5.87, and 0.13 ng/g creatinine, respectively. The geometric mean levels of BP-1, BP-3, and 4-OH-BP were significantly higher in female than those in male. The medians of the urinary concentration of BP derivatives were significantly higher among users of the following PCPs than those in non-users; the PCPs included sunscreen, skin care products, functional cosmetics, makeup base, makeup, lip cosmetics, eye cosmetics, color cosmetics, perfume products, and nail products. A regression analysis revealed a significant linear association between urinary BP-3 concentrations and the number of additional cosmetic products used. These findings provide evidence of a positive association between exposure to PCPs and urinary BP derivative concentrations in Korean adults.

Conocimiento y actitud frente a exposición solar del personal de salud en Atención Primaria, comuna Recoleta, Santiago, Chile / Knowledge and attitude regardings sun exposure in the workers from primary health care, district of Recoleta, Santiago, Chile

Skin cancer rates have increased worldwide despite the current prevention measures. It’s crucial to evaluate people’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding sun exposure. Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding sun exposure in the workers from primary health care. Method: 223 workers from three Family Care Centres(CESFAM) and from one Primary Emergency Service (SAPU) in the district of Recoleta were surveyed between the months of October and November 2015. Fisher’s exact test and Chi square test were used for statistic analysis. The survey included questions about demographic variables, knowledge of the association between sun radiation/skin cancer and attitudes towards sun protection. Results: the sample consists of 74 men and 149 women, with a mean age of 37 years ±SD 7.9. Phototype III was the most common (41.3percent). The majority of the surveyed declared to be aware of the association between sun exposure and skin cancer (93.3percent). As photoprotecting measures, sunscreens (87.4percent) and seeking shade (71.3percent) were the most frequently measures used. Regarding sunburns, 91.9percent declared to have at least one during their lifetime, 21.5percent occurring during the previous summer. As to the use of sunscreen, 42.1percent referred only using while at the pool / beach and 12.6percent declared not to use it at all. As for health promotion, 29.1percent declared they never recommend the use of sun protection measures in their working practice. Discussion: Although there is adequate knowledge regarding the effects of sun exposure, it doesn’t always reflect on favourable attitudes and photoprotecting measures. There was a significantly greater amount of females with adequate knowledge and use of sun protection measures. This study is one of the first to assess photoprotection behaviour in health care workers.

Comparison of sunscreen availability in Chicago Hispanic and non-Hispanic neighborhoods.

BACKGROUND: Poorer survival rates from melanoma among Hispanics have been previously reported. There is little information regarding sunscreen acquisition behaviors or availability/access to products that may help reduce the risk of skin cancer in Hispanic communities. This study sought to understand perceptions regarding sun protection and skin cancer risk and whether the availability of over-the-counter sunscreen products differed in three Chicago neighborhoods with different ethnic compositions. METHODS: We drew on interviews with 65 adult Spanish speaking Hispanics (23-72 years) recruited from faith-based institutions to better understand sunscreen use perceptions. Commercial establishments open to the general public were physically canvassed to determine whether there were any differences in sunscreen products availability. RESULTS: Stores carrying sun protection products are nearly twice as common in non Hispanic White neighborhoods versus Hispanic. In addition, when sunscreens are available for sale, Hispanics have fewer sunscreens to choose from. DISCUSSION: Emergent themes that were elicited during the interviews revealed that barriers to increased sunscreen use include economic and erroneous perceptions regarding skin cancer incidence and risk. Environmental factors that may reinforce these beliefs include lower availability and variety of sun protection products in Hispanic neighborhoods. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that providing culturally appropriate public health information encouraging the use of sunscreen and improving its availability in Hispanic communities are potential points of intervention in attempts to improve morbidity from skin cancer.

Do sunscreens have a role in preventing skin cancer?

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is largely responsible for the harmful effects of sun exposure, notably sunburn, photosensitivity and skin cancer. UV radiation is, for example, implicated in malignant melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer), the incidence of which has risen in the UK over the last 30 years. Such risks make it crucial to know whether measures aimed at reducing sun damage offer worthwhile benefit. Here we assess whether the sunscreen products commonly used to prevent sunburn have a place in the prevention of skin cancer.

A survey of the availability of sunscreen filters in the UK.

The frequency, and thus availability to patients, of ultraviolet (UV) filters contained within sunscreens changes over time. Obtaining current data on filter availability is necessary when considering which agents to include in sunscreen series for patch and photopatch testing of patients. A survey of sunscreen products was undertaken in Dundee, UK, in 2010. In total, 337 products were identified, with a median sun-protection factor of 30 (range 2-50+). In these products, 19 UV filters were identified, of which the most common was butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane. Compared with data from 2005, most filters had an increase in frequency of inclusion, with a trend towards broader spectrum protection. This information should be of use to clinicians considering investigation of contact and photocontact allergy. It also aids determination of the allergenic potential of these filters when reports of allergy and photocontact allergy arise in the literature.

Sunscreens.

Dermatology nurses can advise patients about sunscreen use and sun exposure. A patient's sun-protection plan may include both traditional sunscreens and daily-use products. Understanding terms such as sun-protection factor and ultraviolet A protection facilitates patient communication.

[Changes in sunscreening products in West Germany between 1988 and 1989/90]. / Anderungen lichtfilterhaltiger Produkte in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland zwischen 1988 und 1989/90.

We give a comparative survey of preparations absorbing UV light, based on data collected in 1988 (740 products) and in 1989/90 (988 products). Regarding the ingredients and the way of labelling of these preparations, our study yielded the following results: 1. With regard to the labelling of all ingredients according to CTFA, the number of sunscreen products increased from 11% in 1988 to 21% in 1989/90, that of cosmetics containing light filters from 26% to 28%. 2. Since, during the period studied, the ingredients of 50% of the preparations were changed, we call for the obligation to make a declaration. 3. Only 14 out of 42 UV filters registered in Europe are used in more than 1% of the preparations. In sunscreen products, UV-A filters increased from 51% to 61%, whereas in cosmetics, they decreased from 46% to 37%. In the 1990 list, the UV-B filters most frequently found in sunscreen products were cinnamates (70%), those least common were PABA and PABA derivatives (19%). 4. Since hazardous UV filters, such as 4-isopropyl-dibenzol methane and 3-(4-methyl-benzylidene) camphor, were eliminated from some of the preparations, the prevalences of individual filter substances have changed between 1988 and 1989/90. 5. Only those UV filters that are currently in use should be checked in the photopatch test. 6. Close cooperation between physicians and manufacturers resulted in making products absorbing UV light safer.

Sunscreens: what you and your patients should know.

The proper use of sunscreens may minimize the effects of sun exposure. This article examines characteristics of ultraviolet radiation, identifies patients most susceptible to harmful sun exposure, and evaluates selected sunscreen products.