UV Exposure and Sun-Protective Behavior - Prevention Summary Table

Only one measure per topic is displayed in the summary table. A complete set of measures, where they exist, can be found by following the More Information link in the table below.

Legend:
green line green - headed in the right direction
red line red - headed in the wrong direction
black line black - stable or non-significant change (NSC)
purple purple - indeterminate
blue blue - Healthy People 2030 target
Measure Name Sun-Protective Behavior Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Sunburn
Year Range 2005-2020 2009-2019 2015-2017
Measure

The percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported that they usually or always practice at least one of three sun-protective behaviors - using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing (a long-sleeve shirt, and/or wide brimmed hat shading the face, ears, and neck, and/or long pants/long skirt), or seeking shade when going outside on a sunny day for more than an hour.

Measures

The percentage of high school students (grades 9-12) who reported use of an indoor tanning device such as a sunlamp, sunbed, or tanning booth (not counting receipt of a spray-on tan) one or more times during the 12 months before the survey.

The percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who have used an indoor tanning device one or more times during the past 12 months. Although NHIS-CCS also collected this data for adults in 2005 and 2008, the methodology used likely resulted in overestimates, and these data are not included in the report.

The percentage of high school students (grades 9-12) who reported having been sunburned in the past 12 months.

The percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported having been sunburned in the past 12 months.
Recent Summary Trend Falling Falling Non-Significant Change
Recent Summary Trend Year Range 2015-2020 2015-2019 2015-2017
Desired Direction Rising Falling Falling
Summary Graph Summary graph for Sun-Protective Behavior, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Indoor and Outdoor Tanning, Click to see detailed view of graph Summary graph for Sunburn, Click to see detailed view of graph
Trends and Most Recent Estimates In 2020, 69.4% of adults said they usually or always protect themselves from the sun by practicing at least one of three sun protection behaviors. In 2019, 5.7% of female adolescents used an indoor tanning device within the past year. In 2017, 57.2% of students in grades 9-12 were sunburned in the past year.
Healthy People 2030 Target Increase to 0.0% the proportion of adults who are very likely to use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, wear protective clothing, or seek shade. No Healthy People Target for this measure. Reduce to 52.2% the proportion of students in grades 9-12 who report sunburn.
More Information Sun-Protective Behavior Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Sunburn
Last Updated August 2023 August 2023 August 2023