Sunburn and tanning in a British population

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sunburn and tanning, and associated attitudes were investigated in a national sample of adults in Great Britain. METHODS: A randomly selected cross-sectional sample of 2025 adults aged 16 or over living in England, Scotland and Wales were interviewed in October 1993 in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys Omnibus Survey. RESULTS: The response rate was 77 per cent. Thirty-seven per cent reported at least one episode of sunburn in the past 12 months, the highest frequencies being found in young age groups, in those with skin that tans poorly (p < 0.001), and in those who specifically tried to tan in this period (p < 0.001). Sunbathing was the most frequent activity associated with most severe episodes of sunburn, and occurred most frequently at the beginning of the summer, 46 per cent of episodes occurring abroad. Thirty-three per cent had tried to tan in the past 12 months, the proportion being highest in younger age groups and women (p < 0.001). Among those with severe sunburn more men (34 per cent) expected to burn when trying to tan than women (17 per cent). CONCLUSIONS: The results provide background information with which to develop and evaluate primary prevention initiatives for skin cancer. These should take into account the strong association between sunburn and the desire to tan, particularly in young adults and men.