Risky Sun Exposure Linked to Language Spoken Among Latinos

By Hope Gillette, Saludify

Spanish-speaking Hispanics in the United States are more likely to protect themselves from risky sun exposure when compared to English-speaking Hispanics. The data comes from the Cancer Institute of New Jersey where Elliot Coups and colleagues evaluated the sun-exposure habits of more than 700 individuals of Hispanic descent, 36 percent of which spoke Spanish as their main language.

Overall, HealthDay News reported Spanish-speaking individuals were the most likely to avoid risky sun exposure habits, followed by bilingual individuals. Latinos speaking English as their only language were the least likely to avoid risky sun exposure.

Other findings included:

• 39 percent of all study participants claimed to sunbathe, though younger Hispanics and those of Puerto Rican, Cuban, South American or “other” Hispanic heritage were more likely to do so than those of Mexican descent.
• Approximately 5 percent of participants used indoor tanning, and the practice was most predominant among women, Cubans, and those of “other” Hispanic heritage.
• 53 percent of study participants indicated they stayed in the shade during the majority of time outside on a sunny day.
• 31 percent claimed to use sunscreen the majority of the time they spent outside.
• 24 percent wore sun-protective clothing most of the time or always.
• Hispanic men utilized shade and sunscreen less often than Hispanic women.
• Hispanic men were more likely than Hispanic women to wear sun-protective clothing.
• 43 percent of study participants said they never or rarely used sunscreen.
• Of those who did use sunscreen, approximately 25 percent did not know the SPF factor of sunscreen when it was used.

When language came into play, the only area unaffected, according to researchers, was sunscreen use. Almost half of Hispanics, regardless of language-spoken, rarely used sunscreen, instead preferring to utilize shade as a primary source to reduce risky sun exposure.

Even though the instance of melanoma among Hispanics is rare according to the National Cancer Institute, recent data indicates Hispanics have the second highest rate of melanoma in the United States.

This article was first published in Saludify.

Hope Gillette is an award winning author and novelist. She has been active in the veterinary industry for over 10 years, and her experience extends from exotic animal care to equine sports massage.