More than half of adults may get a sunburn despite using sunscreen, results of recent study show, leading its researchers to suggest that “education about proper sunscreen use is needed.”
A group from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute looked at data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey and estimated that 88.1 million U.S. adults experienced a sunburn in the past year. Around half of respondents (55.1%) reported that their most recent sunburn came even though they had used sunscreen.
The researchers note that sunburn is the “primary modifiable risk factor for skin cancer,” which they say is the most diagnosed form of cancer in the United States, with around 6 million adults treated annually.
“Sunscreen needs to be used properly and reapplied frequently to prevent sunburn,” the study states. The Food and Drug Administration says the average person needs an ounce of sunscreen – “about the amount it takes to fill a shot glass” – to evenly protect the body from head to toe.
The researchers point to more sun safety tips from the FDA, including:
- Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to sunlight, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses and broad-brimmed hats.
- Use broad spectrum sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
- Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often if you’re sweating or swimming.
The study was published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
