Impact of Ultraviolet Photography on Sun Safety Practices of Snow Sport Industry Conference Attendees

Abstract

Abstract:Studies have established ultraviolet (UV) exposure with increased melanoma skin cancer risk. The combination of UV exposure, high altitude, and reflection of UV rays on the snow may create a particularly relevant and high-risk population amongst those who participate in snow sports. The current study aims to determine the effectiveness of a UV-photography and personalized counseling-based intervention to improve sun protection awareness on the snow sport enthusiast population. Participants were recruited at the 2013 SnowSports Industries American (SIA) Snow Show in Denver to complete a 14 question pre-survey assessing sun-safety awareness followed by a Faraghan Medical Elise Digital UV Camera photograph of their face and counseling regarding individual results. Participants were contacted one to two months later by telephone to complete a ten question post-survey. Forty-one percent of participants (46/112) completed both pre-and post-surveys. The UV photography based intervention influenced the opinions and behaviors of sun protection in 78% of male and 62% of female participants with sunscreen use identified as the most frequently modified behavior (53%). While valid barriers to UV photography use include a current lack of reimbursement and lack of public knowledge of its utility, our study indicates the potential impact of UV photography-based interventions among high-risk populations who avidly participate in snow sports.

UV reflectance photography of skin: what are you imaging?

“…UV reflectance photography has been extensively used in a range of research fields including forensics [2][3][4], botany [5], lepidoptery [6,7], herpetology [8], ornithology [9] and historical conservation [10,11] in addition to being reported for use on skin [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. The actual equipment and methods used for the imaging, and their limitations, are often not fully discussed in the articles though.…”

Young Australian adults’ reactions to viewing personalised UV photoaged photographs

“…5,9,13,15 Despite being the beneficiaries of two extensive public health campaigns on skin damage and cancer risks associated with unprotected UVR exposure, young adults continue to engage in tanning activities. Their predilection for a tanned appearance is perplexing to public health authorities given there is growing recognition that UVR is the primary cause of skin cancers and that the rate of the annual increase in the number of newly reported cases now outstrips any other form of cancer.…”

“…[17][18] Unlike regular photographs, UV photographs reveal evidence of existing skin damage that is not yet visible to the human eye (e.g., pigment alterations, vascular skin changes). 5,19 The premise behind its usage is that the visualisation of skin damage has the potential effect of arousing people's feelings of susceptibility/threat to such an extent that any accompanying educational message become persuasive. 18,[20][21] Indeed, a number of studies, predominantly by Mahler et al, have demonstrated that UV photoaged photographs are effective in promoting skinprotective practices.…”

“…18,[20][21] Indeed, a number of studies, predominantly by Mahler et al, have demonstrated that UV photoaged photographs are effective in promoting skinprotective practices. 5,[22][23][24][25][26][27] Such studies suggest that appearance-based UV photoaged photographic interventions have the potential to motivate the kinds of skin-protective practices that ultimately will produce the desired health benefit of a reduction in skin cancer rates.…”

“…[3][4] In the United States (US), skin cancers constitute nearly half of all diagnosed cancers in any one year, one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer, and, of these, approximately 10,000 individuals will die. [5][6] Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with approximately 440,000 new cases diagnosed annually possibly due to the country's hot, dry climate, outdoor sporting culture, and globally high levels of UV radiation. 4,7,8 Changing the Australian populace's positive attitudes towards sun tanning is hampered somewhat by the temporal delay which exists between the cause (UVR) and effect (skin damage) of unprotected sun exposure.…”