Facial exposure to ultraviolet radiation: Predicted sun protection effectiveness of various hat styles.
- Backes C Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Religi A Computer Science Centre, Information Science Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Moccozet L Computer Science Centre, Information Science Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Vuilleumier L Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss), Payerne, Switzerland.
- Vernez D Institute for Work and Health, University of Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Bulliard JL Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (IUMSP), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- 2018-04-24
Published in:
- Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine. - 2018
prevention
protection effectiveness
skin cancer
sun exposure
ultraviolet radiation (uv)
Clothing
Face
Humans
Seasons
Skin
Skin Neoplasms
Sunlight
Ultraviolet Rays
English
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) doses received by individuals are highly influenced by behavioural and environmental factors. This study aimed at quantifying hats' sun protection effectiveness in various exposure conditions, by predicting UVR exposure doses and their anatomical distributions.
METHODS
A well-defined 3-dimensional head morphology and 4 hat styles (a cap, a helmet, a middle- and a wide-brimmed hat) were added to a previously published model. Midday (12:00-14:00) and daily (08:00-17:00) seasonal UVR doses were estimated at various facial skin zones, with and without hat wear, accounting for each UVR component. Protection effectiveness was calculated by the relative reduction in predicted UVR dose, expressed as a predictive protection factor (PPF).
RESULTS
The unprotected entire face received 2.5 times higher UVR doses during a summer midday compared to a winter midday (3.3 vs 1.3 standard erythema dose [SED]) with highest doses received at the nose (6.1 SED). During a cloudless summer day, the lowest mean UVR dose is received by the entire face protected by a wide-brimmed hat (1.7 SED). No hat reached 100% protection at any facial skin zone (PPFmax : 76%). Hats' sun protection effectiveness varied highly with environmental conditions and was mainly limited by the high contribution of diffuse UVR, irrespective of hat style. Larger brim sizes afforded greater facial protection than smaller brim sizes except around midday when the sun position is high.
CONCLUSION
Consideration of diffuse and reflected UVR in sun educational messages could improve sun protection effectiveness.
Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) doses received by individuals are highly influenced by behavioural and environmental factors. This study aimed at quantifying hats' sun protection effectiveness in various exposure conditions, by predicting UVR exposure doses and their anatomical distributions.
METHODS
A well-defined 3-dimensional head morphology and 4 hat styles (a cap, a helmet, a middle- and a wide-brimmed hat) were added to a previously published model. Midday (12:00-14:00) and daily (08:00-17:00) seasonal UVR doses were estimated at various facial skin zones, with and without hat wear, accounting for each UVR component. Protection effectiveness was calculated by the relative reduction in predicted UVR dose, expressed as a predictive protection factor (PPF).
RESULTS
The unprotected entire face received 2.5 times higher UVR doses during a summer midday compared to a winter midday (3.3 vs 1.3 standard erythema dose [SED]) with highest doses received at the nose (6.1 SED). During a cloudless summer day, the lowest mean UVR dose is received by the entire face protected by a wide-brimmed hat (1.7 SED). No hat reached 100% protection at any facial skin zone (PPFmax : 76%). Hats' sun protection effectiveness varied highly with environmental conditions and was mainly limited by the high contribution of diffuse UVR, irrespective of hat style. Larger brim sizes afforded greater facial protection than smaller brim sizes except around midday when the sun position is high.
CONCLUSION
Consideration of diffuse and reflected UVR in sun educational messages could improve sun protection effectiveness.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1111/phpp.12388
- PMID 29682802
- Persistent URL
- https://susi.usi.ch/global/documents/182461
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