INTRODUCTION
Sunscreen is an essential element for sun protection and reduces the risk of skin cancer.1,2 The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends sunscreen use for all ages.3 There are a variety of sunscreen types (organic, inorganic) and formulations (creams, gels, sprays, sticks, etc.) and selection is an individualistic choice.3 Dermatologists' sunscreen perceptions and recommendation factors have been previously studied.4 However, the most important characteristics for patient selection of sunscreens have not been evaluated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional survey study was performed at an academic dermatology office between November 1 and 10, 2023. The survey was voluntary and offered to all patients >18 years. This study was exempted by the institutional review board. Respondents were asked to circle the three most important characteristics (out of 13 listed) they use to choose sunscreen (Figure 1).
RESULTS
A total of 242 patients completed the survey, 106 (43.8%) were males and 136 (56.2%) were females. The average age was 53.6 years. Survey results are depicted in Figure 1. The characteristic chosen most frequently was SPF (75.2%), which was statistically higher than all others combined (P<0.001). Ease of application and dermatologist recommendation had similar preference rates (31.0% and 29.8%, respectively). Texture, water resistance, ingredients, and broad-spectrum were selected slightly less
