Why Don't Men Put On Sunscreen?
Guys seem to never shop for, or even wear sunscreen. (Photo: Getty Images)
Here at Allure, we spend a good deal of time telling you how important it is to wear sunscreen all year round. And for many of our readers—most of whom are, yes, female—putting on sunscreen is just as much a part of their morning routine as brushing their teeth. But what about men?
Melanoma kills twice as many men as women, and Ellen Marmur, an associate clinical professor of dermatology, genetics, and genomic research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told us last year that the reason for this is because men don’t put on sunscreen as frequently as women do. “The majority of men don’t apply sunscreen at all,” Marmur said. “They’re accumulating sunburns and suntans, which raise their risk of skin cancers many, many times.”
To find out more, we asked ten real human men about their sunscreen habits and discovered that while a lot of them know that sunscreen is crucial in preventing skin cancer and aging, they still don’t seem to feel the need to wear it every day.
Phillip, 29, freelance writer
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Not as often as I should. Really only when going to the beach or spending more than a few hours outdoors.”
Where do you apply it? “On my arms, my neck, and the bridge of my nose.“
Why do you apply it when you do? “So I don’t get skin cancer. It’s one of those things I always feel like I should do more but don’t, like flossing or yoga.”
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Mike, 37, self-employed
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Only in summer months, and only when I will be exposed to the sun for about an hour or longer on very sunny days.”
Where do you apply it? “To every exposed area of skin. I spray it on my arms and legs (and torso if I’m making love outdoors), and I put lotion on my face, ears, and neck.”
Why do you apply it? “It relieves the burn (I last longer; it’s like Viagra for sunbathing!), and I don’t want to end up looking like George Hamilton.”
What are your general thoughts about sunscreen? "It’s not evil, but it is banal. It’s boring and dreary but necessary. Of course, absolutely an ally in the war on aging and cancer and George Hamilton.”
Tyler, 27, editor
How often do you apply sunscreen? “I don’t typically, but this summer I’m going to try to be better about it when it comes to my arms, where my tattoos are located. I spent too much time and money on that ink to have it be ruined by the time I’m 30. The moisturizer I use on my face happens to have SPF 15.”
Is the moisturizer a conscious effort to use sunscreen? “It’s not the main reason I chose it, but it was one of those things where I thought, Well, I guess that’s a bonus. If it didn’t have an SPF, I might consider finding something that does, but the fact is I haven’t had that test yet.”
Do you use a sunscreen (like a straight-up sunscreen) ever? "I haven’t in a couple of years. That’s largely because I haven’t been to the beach or gone swimming outdoors. It just hasn’t been a decision I have had to make. When I go walking outside or hang out outdoors, with my clothes on, I don’t wear [sunscreen] on my arms or legs because I figure living in New York, I barely get much sun anyway, might as well try to tan the little bit that I am exposed.”
Will, 41, professor
How often do you apply sunscreen? “As rarely as possible.”
Where do you apply it? "Wherever I can reach without discomfort. I have never once had a sunburned chest.”
Why do you apply it? “Because I am shamed into it by either a person or an earlier sunburn.”
What are your general thoughts about sunscreen? “An unnecessary drag before a sunburn; humiliation in a tube after.”
John, 40, artist
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Every day: It’s in my daily facial moisturizer. I use a more heavy-duty sports one from the brand Headhunter when I’m outdoors for a long period of time. It’s one of the original California sun-care products made in the U.S.A.!”
Where do you apply it? “Usually to just my face unless I’m at the beach or [doing] some other prolonged outdoor activity, like surfing, where my body is more exposed.”
Why do you apply it? “Sunburn is painful and uncomfortable. I also want to keep my skin protected and young-looking.”
What are your general thoughts about sunscreen? “I love it. I don’t mind the chore. I prefer to be safe than sorry.”
Michael, 39, design director
How often do you apply sunscreen? “I apply sunscreen every time I plan on being exposed outside for an extended period of time, an hour plus. This seems to be quite often, usually a couple of days a week.”
When you do apply sunscreen, where do you apply it? “My use of sunscreen tapers off from early spring to later summer or fall. I typically apply it on my face, neck, torso, and shoulders. As summer progresses and my skin becomes less like a glowworm, I loosen up on the areas I apply it to. Mostly, just my torso, as that never seems to catch up to the rest of my skin. Oh, and can’t forget my nose—no matter how much time I spend in the sun, that honker is always getting fried.”
Why do you apply sunscreen when you do? “First and foremost, I use sunscreen so I don’t burn. About eight years ago, a friend and I both got sun poisoning in Vietnam after recklessly playing soccer on the beach for hours without using a drop of sunblock. It was awful; we were delirious and in excruciating pain, and we basically cooked ourselves. I’m naturally pasty and live at an elevation of 8,000 feet, and I do a lot of outdoor activities at even higher altitudes, like hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. The UV intensity seems to increase the higher in elevation you go. Additionally, I’d rather not get skin cancer. Ever since I can remember, I’ve heard that sunburn greatly increases your chances of this happening. But when deciding to apply sunscreen, that thought is a distant second to the more immediate consequence of a nasty sunburn.”
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Greg, 27, writer
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Never.”
Why not? “Because I’m blessed [with dark skin] and don’t get sunburned. I might get skin cancer, but probably not due to UV rays. I literally don’t know what a sunburn feels like. I tan, but just a bit.”
Why do you think you won’t get skin cancer from UV rays? “I’m under the impression that though it can be harmful, it is not a serious concern, especially since I grew up as an athlete. So many of my vacations were things like soccer tournaments. I never really developed an affinity for the beach, and because I’m not pasty, I don’t see any need to lie out in the hot sun and sweat for hours at a time. When I’m outside, I’m clothed in the back garden of a bar, so not as much opportunity to [catch] harmful rays. And I’m blessed with melanin. Sunglasses are my only real protection, but I also like them because they look cool.”
Nick, 38, professor
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Relatively rarely, most often when I’m in close proximity to water. Especially on boats or at the beach, where I feel that the danger is high. I feel protected most of the time by a dark complexion.”
Where do you apply it? “On those occasions, I put it on all exposed skin.”
What are you general thoughts about sunscreen? “I think it’s an extraordinarily important tool, a shield against danger. But I’m also very confused about the information I’m getting and how that matches the variety of products available. For example, are chemical and physical sunscreens equally effective? Why would I use one or the other? And can sunscreens genuinely be water- and sweat-resistant? That just doesn’t seem right to me. On a related topic, it also seems to me that the sun’s rays have become stronger and more dangerous. This is really just based on my perception that the sun feels stronger and more dangerous than it did when I was a kid. Is that true or is this feeling a result of aging?”
Andy, 32, comedy writer
How often do you apply sunscreen? “Only if I’m going to be out in direct sun for a long time, like, many hours.”
When you do apply sunscreen, where do you apply it? “Usually everywhere, anywhere that’s exposed.”
Why do you apply sunscreen when you do? “I don’t want to get burned, but also skin cancer has been in my family.”
What are your general thoughts about sunscreen? “I feel like it’s a necessary thing. Statistically [skin cancer] is one of the most common types of cancer, so why people would think they can somehow escape cancer while spending tons of time in the sun is beyond me.”
Jeff, 35, psychologist
How often do you apply sunscreen? “I’d say it’s activity-dependent. In the summer, it might average once a week, but after the winter blanch cooks off, I’d say that the frequency varies.”
When you do apply sunscreen, where do you apply it? “It’s like the children’s song: head, shoulders, knees, and toes, in that order. Mostly my face (because it’s most exposed and most likely to burn), followed by shoulders, back, and arms. My farmer’s tan tends to take care of itself. I’m not actively looking to go shirtless and so would only likely use it on my torso poolside. My legs are so far down there that the sun’s rays are weaker by the time it reaches them, so I only use sunscreen below the belt if I know I’m going to be out for several hours.” [Editor’s note: He is joking about the weakness of the sun’s rays. Please don’t repeat that to anyone who might believe it.]
Why do you apply sunscreen when you do? "I’m better about thinking ahead before the activity starts but not so good about reapplying. If I’ve been burned recently, I’m much better about remembering.”
What are your general feelings about sunscreen? “If sunscreen really wanted to be a team player, it wouldn’t smell the way it does. And so as long as it insists that every sun-risk occasion deserves a Jimmy Buffet soundtrack, then it will be a chore. But because nothing ruins the mood like melanoma, it has a place.”
In conclusion, dear readers, it may be time for an intervention. Let the men in your life know about the importance of wearing sunscreen on a daily basis (not just on weekends or during all-day surfing marathons), and disavow them of the scary misconception that darker skin somehow protects against skin cancer. Tell them how and when to wear sunblock and send them some recommendations for products that don’t smell funny.
By Renee Jacques
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