Articles on sunscreen specifically:
The efficacy and safety of sunscreen use for the prevention of skin cancer (Michelle Xu)
- This paper talks about the effects that sunscreen use will have on photoaging and skin cancer–specifically, sunscreen use reduces the risk of squamous cell and melanoma skin cancers. This study was done in Canada, where it was found that UV rays had to do with 80-90% of skin cancers. The paper recommends the use of sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 for most children and adults.
Risk Reduction for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer with Childhood Sunscreen Use (Michelle Xu)
- This paper finds that using sunscreen with a SPF of 15 regularly during the first 18 years of life would reduce the lifetime incidence of skin cancer tumors by 78%. It continues to outline further benefits of sunscreen use, including the slowdown of skin aging and reduction of melanoma risk.
Mechanisms of sunscreen failure (Kaitlyn Lee)
- This paper details proper sunscreen use and pitfalls. Common pitfalls of sunscreen usage include applying insufficient amounts of sunscreen, missing areas and receiving UV exposure before sunscreen application. It suggests that proper sunscreen application is to apply before sun exposure and again within an hour.
Interventions to Increase Sunscreen Use in Adults: A Review of the Literature (Kaitlyn Lee)
- This paper reviews 23 studies focused on interventions to increase sunscreen use in adults. Some common trends found include focusing on sunscreen education, prompts, environmental context and resources, health behavior theories, and high-risk populations. The review suggests that education methods may be useful for improving sunscreen use of particular populations, such as those with a high risk for skin cancer.
The science of sunscreen (Kayla Patterson)
- Disproves the false assumptions people have about sunscreen (chemicals, cancer, poisoning, nanoparticles, darker skin, vitamin D) and correctly addresses these assumptions. Sunscreen is still a great protector for your skin from the sun.
Awareness to sun exposure and use of sunscreen by the general population (Kayla Patterson)
- Discusses a study done in Saudi Arabia where they surveyed a large group of people to understand who uses sunscreen and who does not. Found that despite reasonably good knowledge of sun exposure hazards, there is still a low rate of sunscreen use. The conclusion was that there needs to be a health education program and policy.
- Explores the differences between different genders, income brackets, occupations, and skin type using more sunscreen than the other. Found that non-users do not use it because they don’t have it, it’s not convenient, or hyperpigmentation and other preparations are not important to them.
Skin Cancer Risk-Lowering Behaviors and Skincare Habits of Youth Ages 18-25 Years (Tiffany Lee)
- Found that adequate knowledge on skin cancer risk factors does not translate to actually carrying out risk-lowering behaviors. In addition, for risk-lowering behavriors, over 50% of the participants regularly use sunscreen when exposed to the sun.
Public Education Projects in Skin Cancer Prevention: Child Care, School, and College-Based (Tiffany Lee)
- Looking at existing sun safety habits and sun safety programs for society-wide and local initiatives in Australia, North America, and Europe. Provides recommendations and strategies for communicating and providing educational material for caregivers and public-schools to improve skin cancer outcomes.
Text-Message Reminders to Improve Sunscreen Use (Labib Rahman)
- Text contained information about the weather and then a prompt for the receiver to apply sunscreen. Over the 6 week study, they found that adherence was low, but text messaging is an effective and low-cost way to improve adherence to wear sunscreen.
How to structure new habits:
What influences the selection of contextual cues when starting a new routine behaviour? An exploratory study (Kaitlyn Lee)
- This paper investigates what influences cue selection through a study in which participants took vitamin C tablets for 3 weeks. It found that cue selection was primarily influenced by a desire to reduce effort, prior experience with similar behaviors, and beliefs about effective approaches.
How does habit form (Labib Rahman)
- Investigates real-world habit formation by doing a narrative and methodological review on existing literature. Outlines 6 criteria to evaluate studies and enhance the robustness of study conclusions in the future.
