Photoprotection practices, knowledge and sun-related skin damage in Spanish beach handball players

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2019-06Department
Didáctica de la Educación Física, Plástica y Musical; Estadística e Investigación OperativaSource
PeerJ - 2019, Vol. 7:e7030Abstract
Background. Outdoor sports are a risk activity for skin cancer, especially if adequate
sun protection measures are not used. The aim of this study is to examine the
photoprotection habits of outdoor (beach) handball players, and to determine the
relation between duration of sports practice, photoprotection behaviour and sunrelated
damage to the skin.
Methods. This cross-sectional study is based on a health survey of sun exposure and
protection habits and practices conducted among beach handball players in southern
Spain. This survey provided data for a descriptive and comparative analysis, by groups
and gender, of photoprotection and skin self-examination practices.
Results. Among the whole sample, 76.9% had suffered at least one sunburn event
during the last year. By groups, 73.97% of the older participants (Group I, University
students) and 81.25% of the younger ones (Group II, youngers players) reported this
outcome, and the difference was statistically significant (p D 0:003). With respect to
photoprotection, 68.5% of the players in group I and 66.7% of those in group II used
sun cream with a protection factor of 30 or higher, although 52.1% of group I and
35.4% of group II did not reapply it. As concerns self-examination, 94.5% of group I
and 87.5% of group II had not examined their body for skin damage during the previous
year. Medical examination revealed the presence of lentigines and freckles among many
players, with no significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusions. Beach handball players are highly exposed to the effects of ultraviolet
radiation and often take insufficient measures of sun protection. Programmes should
be designed and implemented to raise awareness among adolescent and young adult
sport competitors of the risks of skin cancer associated with their sports activity and to
encourage them to improve their photoprotection and skin monitoring practices.