Abstract
Background: Sun protection is essential to prevent skin cancers. The aim of this study was to determine sun protection behaviour and its role as a risk factor with other risk factors in the development of actinic keratosis in older population.
Methods: In total, 50 patients with actinic keratosis and 50 similar controls in terms of age, sex and education were enrolled in the study. Each participant was examined carefully by two dermatologists for the presence of actinic keratosis and determining risk factors. Standardized mini mental test, sociodemographic characteristics questionaire, sun protection questionaire were used in the study.
Results: The risk of actinic keratosis development was higher in the cases having more than three frecles on face and fair skin color (OR: 4, p=0.045 and OR:3, p=0.041 respectively). The ratio of using wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun in controls (58%) was higher than cases with actinic keratosis (32%) (p=0.015). The presence of actinic keratosis affects the variation of sun protection behavior by 15% (p=0.01).
Conclusions: Fair skin types and the presence of freckles on the face are risk factors on the development of actinic keratosis. Independently of the presence of actinic keratosis, elderly peoples does not have enough sun protection awareness and/or behaviour.