How to Ensure Outdoor Workers Use Sun Protection

Source: Dermatology Times, May 2022

Sunscreen use is on the rise, but further education is needed.

How can dermatologists approach managing sun exposure-related melanoma risk for outdoor workers for whom advice to avoid the sun is simply not practical? Joel Schlessinger, MD, president of skin care retailer LovelySkin.com and CEO of Schlessinger MD, both in Omaha, Nebraska, gave Dermatology Times ® insights into current usage of sunscreen and sun protection among outdoor workers and unique challenges in educating this patient population, based on a recent study.

Be patient. My impression has always been that it is unfortunate that even with encouragement of sunscreen use and protection, and even making it more readily available, there just isn’t a desire on many people’s parts to do the right thing. Having said that, I think it is a great thing that healthcare providers try. And over time, you may win the battle, even though you might have lost it initially. So you have to do these types of things and educate, educate, educate. And if you can, you will end up eventually winning their hearts over.

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