Sunscreen usage habits among nonmelanoma skin cancer patients before diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: The incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is gradually increasing. The most important etiologic factor of these cancers is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The amount of melanin in our skin is the most important factor which protects skin against ultraviolet radiation. Phenotypically fair skined Fitzpatick 1-3 skin type individuals have weak tanning ability. Because people with this skin type have less melanin in their skin. The risk for the harmful effects of UV radiation such as sunburn, photoaging, skin cancer is higher in Fitzpatrick 1-3 skin types. Protection from the sun is very important for reducing the incidence of skin cancers. Material and Methods: The study included 137 patients who had surgical excision for malignant lesion in head-neck area and got a pathologic diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basosquamous carcinoma. We questioned these 137 patients about sunscreen usage habits and sun exposure degrees before diagnosis. Results: 82,5% of the participants indicated that they never used sunscreen. 11,7% of them stated that they applied sunscreen irregularly and 5,8% of them stated that they applied sunscreen regularly only in summer. There wasn't any patient in our study who applied sunscreen regularly whole year. We didn't observe any statistically significant difference between Fitzpatrick skin types about sunscreen usage habits (p>0,05). 50% of the patients indicated their sun exposure degree as 'often', 34,2% of them indicated as 'occasionally' and 15,8% of them stated as 'rarely'. Conclusion: 82,7% of the patients with Fitzpatrick 1-2 skin types who are the most UV sensitivite group never used sunscreen before diagnosis. We think that this result is quite dramatic. This situation shows that the individuals who are more sensitive to UV don't have enough knowledge about their sensitivity and high skin cancer risk. We foresee that educating public especially the indiviuals in the risk group about photoprotection will decrease the incidence of skin cancers significantly. Copyright © 2016 by Türkiye Klinikleri.