Avaliação do conhecimento da população de Colatina -ES sobre os efeitos da luz ultravioleta e visível

High doses of sunlight can cause aging and skin cancer. Sunscreens are used to protect against cell damage. Many Colatina residents work in the fields and on construction sites and thus have high sun exposure, but there is no data on their knowledge about or use of protection against the sun. A quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate knowledge about the effects of sun exposure and adoption of protective measures in patients of the UNESC-Saude. The results showed that women paid more attention to skin protection than men and that the use of sunscreen was directly related to educational level. The results suggest that men over 50 years old and people with little education are at increased risk of aging and skin cancer due to exposure to sunlight.