Perceptions and Recommendations for Sunscreen: A Cross-Sectional Survey of United States Dermatology Healthcare...

The objective of this survey was to obtain feedback and insights from United States dermatology healthcare professionals on their perceptions of sunscreens.

This cross-sectional survey study launched online via the Dermsquared® platform to US dermatology healthcare professionals (HCPs) comprised questions evaluating perceptions of sunscreen (eg, formulation, usage, active safety and efficacy, misinformation, and perceptions on sunscreen access). "Strongly agree" and "agree" responses were analyzed together and "strongly disagree" and "disagree" responses were analyzed together. The relationships between groups were evaluated using the chi-square test of independence (P<0.05).

A total of 723 HCPs were surveyed. Most (98%) agreed that the "best sunscreen is the one that patients will consistently use." Significantly more dermatologists than physician assistants and nurse practitioners (P<0.05) agreed with this, and 99% of HCPs agreed that sunscreen helps lower skin cancer risk. Most HCPs (99%) agreed that sunscreens offering a better application and aesthetic experience are likely to be used by patients more often. Significantly more HCPs agreed that chemical/organic actives offer a better application experience than physical/inorganic actives compared with those who responded neutral or disagreed, and most HCPs agreed that both sunscreen types were safe and effective. Social media and social media influencers were believed to be the greatest source of misinformation for patients.

The dermatology HCPs in this survey strongly support sunscreen use and believe that FDA-approved sunscreens are effective and safe. The social media findings highlight a continued need to improve education on sunscreen use and increase counseling from clinicians on sun protection behaviors.