Objective:

To analyze the contexts in which adults experience sunburns based on data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.

Approach:

• Survey Analysis: Data from 32,629 adult participants were analyzed, focusing on contexts of recent sunburns, including activities like working, tanning, exercising, and using sunscreen.

Key Findings:

• 61% of respondents reported their most recent sunburn occurred while spending time in, on, or near water.
• 88.1 million US adults (35% of the population) reported at least one sunburn in the previous year.
• 55% of respondents reported sunburn despite using sunscreen.
• 46% of adults aged 18 to 29 reported at least one sunburn, compared to 17% of those aged 65 and older.
• Non-Hispanic White adults had a 46% prevalence of at least one sunburn.
• 18.8 million adults reported four or more sunburns in the previous year.
• Among adults classified as sun sensitive, 55% reported at least one sunburn and 13% reported four or more sunburns.
• 8% of the overall population reported four or more sunburns.
• Among racial and ethnic groups, 22% of Hispanic adults, 16% of non-Hispanic Asian adults, and 9% of non-Hispanic Black adults reported at least one sunburn.

Interpretation:

The study highlights the prevalence of sunburn among US adults and the contexts in which they occur, emphasizing the need for effective sun protection.

Limitations:

• Data were cross-sectional, limiting causal conclusions.
• Self-reported information may be subject to recall and social desirability bias.
• Sunburn-context data were limited to the most recent sunburn and may not reflect usual circumstances.
• The sunscreen question did not account for factors affecting effectiveness, such as application frequency and type.

Conclusion:

Approximately one-third of US adults experience at least one sunburn each year, increasing their skin cancer risk.

Sources:

• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report