Outdoor workers are far more likely to get sunburned and tanned when compared to the average American, according to a recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults.
Half of outdoor workers were sunburned in 2023, compared to 36% of the general American population. One in 10 outdoor workers had sunburns severe enough to cause blisters, a rate double that of the general population., the survey showed. Nearly 80% of outdoor workers got a tan or darker skin as a result of sun exposure, compared to 67% of Americans overall.
“Since most outdoor workers are exposed to the sun during peak hours of the day, it’s vital they adopt sun protection measures as part of their daily routine to safeguard against skin cancer,” says Bruce Brod, MD, MHCI, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, in a news release.
Those people who work outside are more likely to protect themselves by wearing hats, but not significantly more likely to use sunscreen, according to the survey. Fifty-nine percent reported wearing a hat compared to 47 percent of all Americans.
Outdoor workers are also more likely to believe tanning myths, according to the survey. What’s more, 31% believe a base tan will prevent sunburns, whereas only 23% of all Americans believe this misinformation. Thirty-one percent of outdoor workers believe that tanning is safe if you don’t burn.
