Study Reveals What Really Drives Teen Sun Safety Habits

A new study exploring teen behavior and sun exposure highlights an important reality: What adolescents believe about sun protection and tanning may play a major role in their future skin cancer risk.

The research, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggests that more personalized, relatable strategies are needed to improve sun safety habits.

“These data remind us that knowing about the risks of overexposure to the sun isn't enough to change teens’ behavior,” said senior investigator Kenneth P. Tercyak, Ph.D., professor of oncology, pediatrics and psychiatry, and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. “To do that, we have to understand what they think about the pros and cons of staying safe, and help shift that perspective.”

Investigators analyzed data from more than 2,100 high school students (46% male; 77% White; 33.4% rural) participating in the Sun-safe Habits Intervention and Education (SHINE) program. The goal was to better understand why some teens consistently protect themselves from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as by wearing sunscreen or protective clothing, while others do not.

The findings point to two major influences: how teens perceive the “cost” of protecting themselves from the sun and how they view the “rewards” of tanning.

For many adolescents, sun protection can feel inconvenient. It may be seen as time-consuming, uncomfortable or even socially awkward. This perception of “cost” was strongly linked to lower use of protective behaviors. In other words, the more teens felt sunscreen or sun-safe habits were a hassle, the less likely they were to use them.

At the same time, the study found that teens who viewed tanning as attractive or desirable were also less likely to protect themselves. This reflects a common cultural belief that tanned skin looks healthier or more appealing — despite the well-established link between UV exposure and skin damage, premature aging and increased risk of skin cancer.

Knowledge also played a key role. Students who had a better understanding of UV safety were more likely to engage in protective behaviors. However, even with knowledge, perceptions about appearance and inconvenience still had a strong influence on behavior.

The study suggests that simply educating teens about skin cancer risk may not be enough. Instead, effective prevention strategies may need to address appearance-related motivations directly. For example, tools like UV photography, which shows hidden skin damage, or simulations of premature aging caused by sun exposure could make the risks feel more real and immediate.

The takeaway for patients and families is clear: Building sun-safe habits early in life is critical, but it requires more than just awareness. Addressing social norms, convenience and appearance-related beliefs may be key to helping teens make healthier choices.

By understanding what drives these behaviors, parents, educators and health care providers can better support adolescents in protecting their skin — reducing their long-term risk of skin cancer.

“This study drives home the importance of reaching people early in life with more effective skin cancer prevention strategies that resonate, and working with communities to help lower the cancer burden,” concluded study investigator Omar U. Anwar, a biology student at Georgetown University.