Sun sensitivity is an inherent risk factor for skin cancer. Sun protection is important in sun-sensitive individuals to reduce sunburns for skin cancer prevention. 

A new study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of sun-protective behaviors—staying in the shade, using sunscreen and wearing long sleeves—with sunburn and vitamin D deficiency in sun-sensitive individuals.

This cross-sectional study enrolled 2 390 US non-Hispanic white adults aged 20-59 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2014. Sun sensitivity was defined as self-reported tendency to severe sunburn when exposed to the sun for half an hour after months of non-sun exposure, and single serum 25(OH)D levels less than 50 nmol/L was determined as vitamin D deficiency.

The results revealed that sun-sensitive individuals had higher odds of frequently staying in the shade and using sunscreen – which was not associated with sun exposure time. Yet, sun-sensitive individuals had significantly higher likelihood of sunburns and no increased likelihood of vitamin D deficiency. Among sun-sensitive individuals, being younger, male and spending more time outdoors were associated with increased odds of sunburns and the risk of sunburn was reduced with frequently staying in the shade and engaging in multimodal sun protections.

Therefore, it was noted that sun-sensitive individuals more frequently used sun protection methods, yet they were significantly more likely to experience sunburns, while the risk of vitamin D deficiency was not increased. It was stated that education on proper application of sunscreen combined with other sun-protective techniques is important to reduce sunburn in sun-sensitive populations.

Source: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2020 May 26. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16681.