Sunscreens should be used in conjunction with daily sun-safety behavior in order to achieve maximal photoprotection. Avoidance of UV radiation to the skin is the ultimate goal. Hats, umbrellas, and protective clothing are easy ways to protect the skin. Daily use of sunscreens with frequent reapplication should be a part of the daily routine. Sunbathing and tanning salons should be strictly avoided.
Sun avoidance is easy to advocate, but in reality, difficult to practice. Sunscreen is the most common sun-protection behavior practiced, yet only about 40% of British colleges students admitted to daily sunscreen use (48). Within the adult age range, women and people with sensitive skin were most likely to be using skin protection (49). However, women were also more likely than men to sunbathe deliberately and to use sun-tanning booths. Adolescents have the lowest skin protection rates of all age groups. Less than one – third of U. S. youths, ages 11-18, practice routine sun protection on sunny days during the summer (50). Furthermore, adolescents are increasingly using tanning salons. In a study of 1274 U. S. adolescents, 12% of boys and 42% of girls had tanned indoors (51).