SUN PROTECTION AND SUNSCREEN USE AFTER SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA

Sixty-three patients (mean age 54+/-9 years) who were treated for a ba sal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 54 control subjects (mean age 51+/-11 yea rs) filled out detailed questionnaires on their sun exposure and sun p rotection habits. Patients were given the questionnaires at least I ye ar after their skin tumors had been excised. Differences between patie nts and controls in mean age, gender, Fitzpatrick's skin type and eye and hair color were statistically nonsignificant. The level of educati on was high in both patients and controls (mean of 13.4+/-3.1 school y ears). Differences in education were statistically nonsignificant. We found that both patients and controls were knowledgeable about the rol e of sunscreens in preventing skin tumors (79% and 83% respectively) a nd in preventing sun-induced aging (90% and 85% respectively). Signifi cantly more patients used sunscreens regularly (64%) compared with con trols (36%). Nevertheless, our data show no statistically significant differences between the sun exposure habits of the patients previously treated for BCC and controls. Moreover, we found that, although 82% o f the patients declared that they tried to avoid sun, only 49% regular ly wore hats or shirts with long sleeves in the summer (19%). Sixty-tw o percent of the patients used two or fewer bottles of sunscreens per year, which is inadequate for effective year-round sun protection. In addition, we found that many patients, as well as the controls, applie d sunscreens only once a day (57% and 46% respectively), did not reapp ly after swimming (58%, 74% respectively), and did not use sunscreens in the winter (49%, 61%). Our data show that, although patients after BCC removal have a significantly higher sunscreen use compared with co ntrols, the amount and methods of application are less than adequate. Moreover, other simpler methods to prevent photodamage, such as simple sun avoidance or the use of protective clothing, are often neglected.