Skin Typing, Sun Exposure, and Sunscreen Use in a Population of Japanese

Distribution of Japanese skin types (JSTs), sun‐exposure habits, and sunscreen use were surveyed in 379 new outpatients. The largest number of subjects belonged to JST class J‐II (65%), J‐I was second (24%), and J‐III was third (11%). Eighty‐eight percent of those studied had occasional or habitual sun exposure during the summer, and many were exposed for more than three hours per exposure day (80% of those with occasional exposure; 62% of those with habitual exposure). More younger persons had occasional sun exposure than older persons. More males had habitual sun exposure than females. Sunscreens were used by 41% of the subjects, but 77% of these used them without accurate understanding of the definition of the sun protection factor. More J‐I subjects used sunscreens than J‐II and J‐III subjects. More females than males used them.