Skin cancer prevention coverage in popular US women's health and fitness magazines: an analysis of advertisements and articles

The Era of Energy Drinks: Consumption Pattern, Awareness, Perception, and Their Adverse Impact on Adolescent Health in Egypt

BACKGROUND

Despite the risks associated with energy drinks (EDs), the consumption of EDs remains high, especially among adolescents, so the study aimed to assess the consumption pattern, awareness, perception of EDs, and their adverse impact on adolescent health.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used. The study setting is Damanhur City, Beheira governorate, Egypt, with a sample size of 350 participants. A structured interview questionnaire was used to collect the data and consisted of five parts: socio-demographic data, pattern of use, negative adverse effects of EDs, knowledge, and perception.

RESULTS

The data reveal that 38.5% of the studied sample consumed EDs, and 14.2% of them consumed more than one time per day. The main reason for consumption was feeling fatigue among 46.4%, followed by 28.7% to increase concentration. Only 36% had satisfactory awareness, and 45.7% perceived that excessive consumption has dangerous effects. Age, educational stage, gender, awareness, and perception are significant influencers on the consumption of EDs. The reported adverse impacts were polyuria among 51.4%, followed by tachycardia (40.0%) and insomnia (35%).

CONCLUSION

About one-third of studied adolescents consume EDs regularly and reported several adverse health effects, such as polyuria and tachycardia. The main reason for consumption was feeling fatigued among about half of the studied adolescents. Low awareness levels and negative perceptions were significantly associated with consumption.

RECOMMENDATION

Implement educational programs about EDs and their possible risks to improve the awareness level among adolescents. Further studies should be carried out across different countries.

Photoprotection in Outdoor Sports: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations to Reduce Risk Among Athletes

Solar exposure, for long hours and often at peak times with limited shade available, predisposes athletes to episodic sunburn and chronic damage, causing increased risk of precancerous lesions and skin cancer. Environmental factors and training intensity affect risk. Clothing provides good protection, but changing established "uniforms" may not be possible for reasons of practicality, safety, or simply custom. Although physical activity should be encouraged for its physical and mental benefits, risk of skin damage should be minimised. We review existing behaviours, skin cancer risk, and campaigns in the sporting population and highlight key recommendations to help sun protection practices become engrained in sports practice.

Direct-to-consumer dermatology-related advertising differs in magazines targeted to women of color: A cross-sectional analysis of top-circulating consumer magazines

Background

Advertisements for dermatology-related products in consumer magazines serve as a potential source of health literacy, which varies by demographic group.

Objective

This study sought to examine differences in advertisements for dermatology-related products in the top U.S. consumer magazines targeted at women of color compared with three other demographic groups: teenagers, adult women, and adult men.

Methods

Dermatology advertisements in the most circulated U.S. consumer magazines targeting these four demographic groups were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were obtained. Simple logistic regressions were used to compare the product indications, language used, and the sex, age, ethnicity, and skin type of models between magazine categories. Limitations of this study included that certain magazines could not be included due to a lack of accessibility, and subjective assessments were made when necessary because not all data collected were explicitly stated.

Results

Significant differences exist in print media advertising for women of color in comparison with other demographic groups, including skin-of-color magazines having an increased number of darker-skin models, more advertisements related to products that target pigmentation, and differences in advertisement word choices.

Conclusion

The differences in print media advertising for women of color in comparison with other demographic groups may influence the dermatologic concerns of this population, including their dermatology-related knowledge base, grooming practices, beauty perceptions, and utilization of dermatology as a specialty.

Skin cancer concerns particular to women

Background

Skin cancer has reached epidemic proportions, with more new cases diagnosed annually than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. Estimates show 2 to 3 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) every year, and, among women, it is the young (younger than 45 years) who are disproportionately affected.

Objective

This article aims to address questions and concerns pertinent to skin cancer in a woman-centric way. An updated landscape of causative factors, the latest detection/treatment methods, and ultimately the preventative measures available to them are described.

Methods

A broad literature search was conducted using the PubMed database with search terms focusing on female gender. Additional articles were identified from cited references.

Conclusions

The published findings on causation of melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer in females are outlined, as well as current detection methods and treatment options. Furthermore, a variety of preventative measures specific to women that can reduce the chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer are discussed.

Skin cancer concerns particular to women

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer has reached epidemic proportions, with more new cases diagnosed annually than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. Estimates show 2 to 3 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) every year, and, among women, it is the young (younger than 45 years) who are disproportionately affected.

OBJECTIVE

This article aims to address questions and concerns pertinent to skin cancer in a woman-centric way. An updated landscape of causative factors, the latest detection/treatment methods, and ultimately the preventative measures available to them are described.

METHODS

A broad literature search was conducted using the PubMed database with search terms focusing on female gender. Additional articles were identified from cited references.

CONCLUSIONS

The published findings on causation of melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer in females are outlined, as well as current detection methods and treatment options. Furthermore, a variety of preventative measures specific to women that can reduce the chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer are discussed.

An Advertisement and Article Analysis of Skin Products and Topics in Popular Women's Magazines: Implications for Skin Cancer Prevention

BACKGROUND

In the United States, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with an estimated 5 million people treated per year and annual medical treatment expenditures that exceed 8 billion dollars. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to enumerate the number of advertisements for skin products with and without Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and to further analyze the specific advertisements for sunblock to determine if models, when present, depict sun safe behaviors and 2) to enumerate the number of articles related to the skin for content. Both aims include an assessment for differences in age and in magazines targeting a Black or Latina population.

METHODS

The sample for this cross sectional study was comprised of 99 issues of 14 popular United States magazines marketed to women, four of which market to a Black or Latina audience.

RESULTS

There were 6,142 advertisements, of which 1,215 (19.8%, 95% CI: 18.8-20.8%) were related to skin products. Among the skin product advertisements, 1,145 (93.8%, 95% CI: 93.9-96.3%) depicted skin products without SPF. The majority of skin articles (91.2%, 95% CI: 91.7-100.0%), skin product advertisements (89.9%, 95% CI: 88.2-91.6%), and sunblock advertisements featuring models (were found in magazines aimed at the older (>24 yr) audience.

CONCLUSION

Future research on this topic could focus on the extent to which images in these magazines translate into risky health behaviors, such as sun seeking, or excessive other harmful effects of UV radiation.

Tanning Shade Gradations of Models in Mainstream Fitness and Muscle Enthusiast Magazines

Tanned skin has been associated with perceptions of fitness and social desirability. Portrayal of models in magazines may reflect and perpetuate these perceptions. Limited research has investigated tanning shade gradations of models in men’s versus women’s fitness and muscle enthusiast magazines. Such findings are relevant in light of increased incidence and prevalence of melanoma in the United States. This study evaluated and compared tanning shade gradations of adult Caucasian male and female model images in mainstream fitness and muscle enthusiast magazines. Sixty-nine U.S. magazine issues (spring and summer, 2013) were utilized. Two independent reviewers rated tanning shade gradations of adult Caucasian male and female model images on magazines’ covers, advertisements, and feature articles. Shade gradations were assessed using stock photographs of Caucasian models with varying levels of tanned skin on an 8-shade scale. A total of 4,683 images were evaluated. Darkest tanning shades were found among males in muscle enthusiast magazines and lightest among females in women’s mainstream fitness magazines. By gender, male model images were 54% more likely to portray a darker tanning shade. In this study, images in men’s (vs. women’s) fitness and muscle enthusiast magazines portrayed Caucasian models with darker skin shades. Despite these magazines’ fitness-related messages, protanning images may promote attitudes and behaviors associated with higher skin cancer risk. To date, this is the first study to explore tanning shades in men’s magazines of these genres. Further research is necessary to identify effects of exposure to these images among male readers.