Sunscreen Use in an Urban Negev Population
Pesach Shvartzman
Family Medicine Dept., Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba
The use of sunscreen in the Negev population was assessed. The study population included 1458 subjects, mean age 35.5±14.2 years, half born in Israel and 25% in East Europe. Two-thirds were exposed to the sun 1-2 hours a day and 13% 4 hours a day or more. Only about 15% used sunscreen while shopping, 69% used it at the beach, and less than half applied it to children being sent to school. Sunscreen use was greater in women (p<0.000001), especially those with sensitive skin (p<0.0001) and red hair (p<0.0001). No significant association was found with age, education or country of birth.