Sun protection of children at the beach.

BACKGROUND: We wanted to determine the frequency with which sun protection measures are used by children at the beach. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken that combined a brief, structured interview with direct observation of the sun protection methods (sunscreen, clothing, hats, shade) used for children at a public beach in Florida. RESULTS: Of the 139 children observed, 97 (69.8%) had some form of sun protection used on all three body regions (head, torso, legs), while only 8 (5.8%) had none of the three body regions protected. Sunscreen was the most common method of sun protection (84.9%), and other methods were less frequently used (shirt 11.5%, pants 26.6%, hat 8.6%, shade 14.4%). Sun protection use differed by sex, with girls having better protection of their head and torso, and boys slightly better protection of their legs. CONCLUSIONS: Using direct observation, we found that parents frequently use sun protection measures (mainly sunscreen) for their children while at the beach. Parents primarily rely on the use of sunscreen, rather than such measures as avoiding the sun, using shade, or protective clothing.