Sunscreen Use and Usefulness in African-Americans

Sunscreen use in the African-American population is much less than in Caucasians. Its use in African-Americans varies based on factors such as sex, age, skin type, socioeconomic status, occupation, aesthetic issues, and medical conditions. In order to investigate sunscreen usage and awareness among African-Americans, a questionnaire survey was conducted in a primary care office setting located in a beach community of Queens, New York. This article will review some of the issues, attitudes, and beliefs regarding sunscreen use within the African-American community with data compiled from the survey and a literature search.