How Often U.S. Adults Get Sunburned, and When, 2024

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States: about 6 million adults are treated for it each year, at an estimated cost of $8.9 billion annually. Sunburn is its main modifiable risk factor. Even one sunburn at any age raises the risk, and the more sunburns, the higher the risk. A CDC and National Cancer Institute analysis of the 2024 National Health Interview Survey measured how common sunburn is and, for the first time in a large nationally representative survey, what people were doing when it happened.

The survey

The 2024 survey interviewed 32,629 adults, with a response rate of 47.9%. Adults were asked whether they had had a sunburn in the past 12 months — defined as even a small patch of skin turning red or hurting for 12 hours or more — and how many. Four or more counted as frequent sunburn. Those with at least one sunburn were asked whether, at their most recent burn, they had been working at their job, trying to tan, exercising, spending time in, on or near water, using sunscreen, or drinking alcohol; they could choose more than one. Participants were also asked what would happen to their skin after an hour of unprotected sun, which sorted them into sun-sensitive, not sun-sensitive, and those who do not go out in the sun.

How common sunburn is

• At least one sunburn in the past year: about 88.1 million adults (35.1%), including 68.1 million (54.6%) of sun-sensitive adults.
• Four or more sunburns: about 18.8 million adults (7.5%), and 13.2% of sun-sensitive adults.

Sunburn was especially common among adults who were younger, White, sun-sensitive, or from families with high incomes, and it varied by sex, education and region as well.

When people got burned

Among adults with a recent sunburn, their most recent burn happened while:

CDC chart: context of the most recent sunburn, by sex, age, race and ethnicity, and sun sensitivity.

Differences between groups

• Sex. Women were more likely than men to have been burned near water (65.0% vs 55.9%), while using sunscreen (64.3% vs 45.3%) and while tanning (21.3% vs 10.3%). Men were more likely to have been burned while exercising (27.2% vs 22.4%), drinking alcohol (20.0% vs 15.4%) and working (19.4% vs 6.8%).
• Age. Compared with adults aged 18 to 29, every older group was less likely to have been burned at work or while tanning. Adults 65 and older were less likely to have been burned near water (45.0% vs 65.7%), while using sunscreen (46.0% vs 58.9%) or while drinking (9.7% vs 17.2%).
• Race and ethnicity. Compared with non-Hispanic White adults, Hispanic adults were more likely to have been burned at work (18.6% vs 12.4%) and less likely while exercising (20.0% vs 25.6%). Non-Hispanic Asian adults were more likely to have been burned despite sunscreen (63.1% vs 55.5%). Non-Hispanic Black adults were less likely to have been burned while tanning, exercising or using sunscreen.
• Sun sensitivity. Adults who were not sun-sensitive were more likely than sun-sensitive adults to have been burned at work (15.0% vs 12.4%) or while tanning (18.8% vs 15.3%), and less likely despite sunscreen (47.7% vs 57.2%).

What it suggests

That more than half of recent burns happened despite sunscreen points to a need to help people use it effectively: broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher together with protective clothing, enough of it (applied before insect repellent), and frequent reapplication, especially after swimming or sweating.

The authors suggest adapting proven programs to high-risk settings. Pool Cool, a sun safety program for outdoor pools, could be adapted for beaches, lakes and rivers, and programs for outdoor workers such as Go Sun Smart could be expanded, especially for men, young adults and Hispanic adults. Shade and free sunscreen make sun safety easier at work and in recreation and tourism. Because many people burn while exercising, sun safety could be paired with physical activity messages, and shade provided in parks, playgrounds and along sidewalks. Future research could look for ways to reduce intentional tanning, especially among women, and at how alcohol affects sunburn risk.

Limitations

• The survey is cross-sectional and cannot show cause and effect.
• Answers were self-reported and may undercount sunburns.
• Context was asked only about the most recent sunburn and only for the listed contexts, which may not reflect people's usual situations.
• When people chose several contexts, it was impossible to tell which mattered most or how they interacted.
• The sunscreen question did not capture how often, how much or what kind was used.

Sources

• Dawn M. Holman, Michael A. Boring, Anne K. Julian, Richard P. Moser, Keegan T. Peterson and Frank M. Perna, "Prevalence and Context of Sunburn Among U.S. Adults — United States, 2024," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7519a2.htm