Sun exposure and sunscreen use among sunbathers in Denmark

Eight hundred and eight sunbathing Danes were interviewed in order to register the duration of sun exposure and sunscreen use. The mean sun exposure time, 203 min, was found to be independent of sex, age and use of sunscreen. Overall, sunscreens were used by 65%, 73% of the females and 52% of the males. The median sun protection factor used by subjects older than 10 years was 5; in the case of children 10 years or younger, it was 12. Eight per cent of the interviewed subjects used more than one factor. Fifty-seven per cent of the sunscreen users applied the sunscreen prior to arriving at the beach. The sun exposure time was not significantly different in the group of subjects using sunscreens, compared to the group of subjects not using sunscreens. This study indicates that sunscreen users may not increase their exposure to the sun.