SUNSCREEN use barriers vary across diverse patients, with habits, product preferences, and education gaps shaping daily adherence.
A survey-based study of patients attending dermatology clinics in the Bronx, USA, identified distinct sunscreen use barriers across a predominantly skin of color population, underscoring the need for more targeted clinician counseling around photoprotection, sunscreen selection, and skin cancer prevention.
The cross-sectional study included patients aged 13 years and older who completed a paper-based survey on daily sunscreen use and purchasing decisions. Among 155 sunscreen users who responded to questions about barriers, forgetting to apply sunscreen was the most common obstacle, reported by 49 patients, or 31.6%. Another 34 patients, or 21.9%, said they did not need sunscreen because they spent most of the day indoors. In contrast, 55 respondents, or 35.5%, reported no barriers and said they wore sunscreen daily.
Product Preferences Shape Sunscreen Use Barriers
Purchasing decisions were strongly influenced by sun protection factor, or SPF, which was selected by 107 of 149 respondents, or 71.8%. Product feel or appearance was the next most common factor, reported by 78 respondents, or 52.3%, followed by price, water resistance, ingredients, broad spectrum protection, and tint or color.
Age, sex, race, and ethnicity shaped these patterns. Younger patients were more likely to consider price and how sunscreen feels or looks on the skin, suggesting that affordability and cosmetic acceptability may influence adherence. Older patients were less likely to prioritize these factors.
Male patients were less likely than female patients to report having no barriers to sunscreen use and were also less likely to try tinted sunscreen. These findings point to persistent gaps in sun protection habits among men, including those from racial and ethnic minority groups.
Inclusive Photoprotection Requires Tailored Guidance
Hispanic or Latino patients were less likely than non-Hispanic White patients to report forgetting sunscreen, but they were also less likely to prioritize broad spectrum protection. Non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to consider product feel or appearance important when purchasing sunscreen.
The findings suggest that low sunscreen use is rarely explained by a single factor. Instead, sunscreen use barriers may reflect personal routines, cultural beliefs, product access, cost, cosmetic limitations, and gaps in education. Dermatologists can address these barriers by asking patients directly about sunscreen routines, correcting misconceptions about indoor exposure and ultraviolet risk, and recommending affordable, cosmetically suitable options for different skin tones.
The study was limited by its single center design, English language eligibility, and survey scope, but it offers practical insight into how dermatology counseling can better support diverse patients and reduce disparities in ultraviolet related skin disease.
Reference
Leibowitz H et al. Barriers to sunscreen use in a diverse patient population: a survey-based study. Cureus. 2026;18(4):e107756.
Featured Image: xxx on Adobe Stock.
