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. 2021 Sep 1;11(4):e2021090.
doi: 10.5826/dpc.1104a90. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Difference in Sun Exposure Habits Between Individuals with High and Low Risk of Skin Cancer

Oskar Karlsson  1 , Oskar Hagberg  2 , Kari Nielsen  1   3 , John Paoli  4   5 , Åsa Ingvar  1   3
Affiliations

Difference in Sun Exposure Habits Between Individuals with High and Low Risk of Skin Cancer

Oskar Karlsson et al. Dermatol Pract Concept. .

Abstract

Background: Skin cancer incidence is rapidly increasing. The main risk factor, sun exposure, can be modified. Informational campaigns can be effective in raising skin cancer awareness and target the high-risk population. Still, sun exposure habits in people at high risk of skin cancer are not well-known.

Objective: To investigate if and how sun exposure habits differ between low-risk and high-risk individuals.

Methods: During the Swedish Euromelanoma campaign of 2018, questionnaires were collected containing information regarding sun exposure habits and risk factors for skin cancer. Data on 4,141 participants was used to investigate the association between risk factors and sun exposure habits.

Results: A fair skin type and a previous history of skin cancer were significantly associated with enhanced sun protective behavior. Family history of skin cancer, childhood sunburns and the presence of large/atypical nevi had no effect on sun exposure habits. Going on sunny holidays were particularly unaffected by being at high risk of skin cancer.

Conclusion: Individuals at high risk of developing skin cancer showed suboptimal sun exposure habits and harmful traveling behaviors. We suggest that future skin cancer campaigns inform on accurate sun protection behavior during sunny holidays and associated risk factors. Risk factors such as childhood sunburns, numerous common and large/atypical nevi, as well as family history of skin cancer seem to be less recognized by the population.

Keywords: melanoma; risk factors; skin cancer; sun habits.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The Euromelanoma campaign is funded by sponsorship and part of the funding is used for data input and statistical analyses. Oskar Karlsson and Oskar Hagberg were engaged by the campaign to perform these tasks. The sponsors had no impact on the preparation, results, or publication of the study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow-chart for inclusion of questionnaires from the Swedish Euromelanoma week 2018.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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