New Survey Finds Teenage Boys Least Likely to Practice Proper Sun Protection

The old adage "boys will be boys"
epitomizes the reckless abandon with which most boys view life -- whether it's
racing dirt bikes on slick streets without wearing a helmet or spending
countless hours on the beach without an ounce of sunscreen for protection.
Now a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) confirms
that teenage boys are the worst violators when it comes to protecting
themselves from the sun. This may explain why studies cite middle-age and
older men with higher rates of skin cancer than any other gender or age group.


Speaking today at the Academy's Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and
Prevention Month news conference, dermatologist Darrell S. Rigel, M.D.,
clinical professor, New York University Medical Center in New York, N.Y.,
presented new data on teen boys' attitudes about sun protection and why their
behavior translates into an increased risk for developing skin cancer later in
life.


"Without a doubt, teenagers are always the hardest demographic to reach
with any health warning," explained Dr. Rigel. "They don't equate their bad
behavior in the present with bad things happening to them later in life as a
consequence. Skin cancer is no exception."


Boys to Men


When it comes to playing it safe in the sun, the Academy survey found that
teenage boys are least likely to stay out of harm's way. In fact, older teen
boys (aged 15 to 17) are the least careful when it comes to protecting their
skin from sun exposure -- with only 32 percent of those surveyed reporting
that they are very or somewhat careful.


This lax behavior could explain findings from a previous study published
in the January 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology in which older white men had a higher incidence of skin cancer.


By examining data obtained from the Academy's Skin Cancer Screening Program,
where dermatologists provide free skin cancer screenings to consumers, the
study concluded that the majority (44 percent) of individuals diagnosed with
melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- were white men over the age
of 50. These men accounted for fewer than 20 percent of all individuals
screened during the three-year time period when the data was examined,
suggesting that the incidence of skin cancer would be even higher in this
demographic if more older men participated in the screenings.


"Invasive melanoma, which is the hardest type of skin cancer to treat, is
currently the fifth most common cancer in men," said Dr. Rigel. "While skin
cancer can take years to develop, we need to reach teenage boys now to
influence their behavior and reverse this alarming trend. Otherwise, the odds
are extremely high that they will develop this potentially deadly form of skin
cancer when they get older."















Boys vs. Girls


The survey also compared the sun protection attitudes of boys and girls.
"While boys are more careless, the survey found there are interesting
differences between boys and girls when it comes to heeding our advice,"
stated Dr. Rigel.


When asked how careful they are about protecting their skin from the sun,
older teenage boys were the least vigilant compared to younger boys and girls
of all ages. Among 15- to 17-year-old boys, only 32 percent reported that
they are very careful or somewhat careful about protecting their skin from sun
exposure -- compared to 58 percent of girls of the same age.


Across the board, both younger and older teen boys (age 12 to 17) were
less cautious in the sun than teenage girls (age 12 to 17). Considerably
fewer boys reported wearing protective clothing and seeking shade when
outdoors for long periods of time compared to girls, and only 33 percent of
boys said that they apply sunscreen when they are going to be out in the sun
vs. 53 percent of girls.


One area that boys fared better than girls was when they were asked if
they wear hats when outdoors in the sun (50 percent of boys vs. 22 percent of
girls), although Dr. Rigel noted that these hats tend to be baseball caps
instead of wide-brimmed hats that provide the recommended sun protection.
"While baseball caps are better than wearing no hat at all, they don't
adequately protect the neck and ears from sun exposure," said Dr. Rigel.


Among all teens, younger teens (age 12 to 14) tend to be more vigilant
about protecting themselves from the sun than older teens (age 15 to 17).
When asked about how careful they are to protect their skin from the sun, 52
percent of the younger teens reported that they are very or somewhat careful
vs. only 43 percent of older teens.


"With younger teens, parents still have influence on their child's
behavior which makes them more likely to wear sunscreen and protective
clothing when they are going to be outdoors for a long period of time," added
Dr. Rigel. "On the other hand, older teens start exerting their independence
and tend to ignore their parents' advice -- including practicing proper sun
protection."


When asked about their use of tanning beds in the last year, boys were
less likely to engage in this dangerous activity than girls -- with only
5 percent of boys reporting that they used a tanning bed last year vs.
19 percent of girls. The majority of girls who used a tanning bed
(39 percent) noted that the reason they did was to get a tan for a special
occasion, such as a wedding or prom.


In March 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized the
potential dangers that indoor tanning poses to minors and recommended that no
person under the age of 18 should use a tanning bed. The American Academy of
Dermatology Association (AADA) position statement on indoor tanning encourages
states to aggressively pursue legislation that protects children.


Specifically, the AADA supports the following requirements for indoor
tanning facilities:


-- No minor should be permitted to use tanning devices.

-- A Surgeon General's warning should be placed on all tanning devices.

-- No person or facility should advertise the use of any ultraviolet A or
ultraviolet B tanning device using wording such as "safe," "safe
tanning," "no harmful rays," "no adverse effect," or similar wording
or concepts.


"Skin cancer is preventable but until teens change their behavior, we'll
continue to see skin cancer rates continue to rise in this country," said Dr.
Rigel.


The study results were determined by a random sample telephone survey
conducted among a national sample of 505 teens comprising 254 males and 251
females 12 to 17 years of age, living in private households in the continental
United States. This TEEN CARAVAN(R) survey was conducted in February 2005 by
Opinion Research Corporation (Princeton, N.J.) in collaboration with the
Academy.



For more information about skin cancer, visit the Academy's patient
education Web site at skincarephysicians and
select
"SkinCancerNet."


Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology
(Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most
representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more
than 14,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the
diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and
nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research
in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of
healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at
1-888-462-DERM (3376) or aad.