Take the Sunscreen Challenge

Dermatology professionals know better than anyone the importance of adequate sun protection. Educating patients about the correct use of sunscreen, however, can be difficult, and feel repetitive and frustrating. Although most people seem to have very little trouble remembering other healthy habits, such as brushing their teeth the recommended 2 minutes twice a day,1 applying sunscreen, which takes a fraction of the time, is often overlooked. 

This is a challenge the members of the Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (FSDPA) encounter frequently, and addressing it was the focus on the winning entry presented at the group’s 2018 conference. Each year, the FSDPA holds a Community Outreach Scholarship Competition, for which PA students are invited to submit an educational program or public service announcement regarding a dermatologic topic that the FSDPA could implement to better the lives of fellow Floridians. Winners receive free admission to the group’s annual conference to accept the award on stage, and the FSDPA board uses the submission ideas to develop and implement community outreach programs. 

The 2017 winning entry, submitted by Julie Marlowe, a dermatology physician assistant at LoCicero Medical Group in Tampa, FL, targeted increased sunscreen use in the 18- to 25-year-old-demographic. As this generation is known for the accessibility to the internet and social media, the entry included reaching the demographic through hashtags, live videos, and sharing on social media. The strategy also combats a frequent excuse for not applying sunscreen: that it takes too long. 

The FSDPA named it the 20-Second Sunscreen Challenge.2 Several conference attendees were asked to come on stage and apply a shot glass of La Roche-Posay sunscreen to all sun-exposed areas as thoroughly and quickly as possible. The winner completed the task in just 10 seconds. The event was livestreamed on the group’s Facebook page (facebook.com/FSDPA) and used the hashtag #20SecondChallenge on social media. The video now has over 400 views and is still available online for viewing and sharing. 

After the success of this first attempt, the FSDPA decided to make the 20-Second Sunscreen Challenge an annual event at their conference to continue to spread the message about proper sun protection across social channels. The dominant rule of social media is that people will listen to their friends, maybe more so than their health care providers. 

Once health care providers reach one patient who is receptive to the idea of making a 20-second application of sunscreen a regular part of their day for a lifetime, it is likely that patient will join the medical community in spreading the word to the rest of their peer group. And in that way, old-fashioned word-of-mouth with a little bit of peer pressure may help save the skin of the future generations.

References 

1. Quick facts: toothbrushing. American Dental Association. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/~/media/MouthHealthy/Files/A-Z/Infographic_Brushing_102714. pdf?la=en. 2018. Accessed January 7, 2019. 

2. Sunscreen challenge. Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. https:// www.facebook.com/FSDPA/videos/1941694432508561/. Posted April 15, 2018. Accessed January 7, 2019.