A Photoaging Smartphone App to Promote Sun Safety in Young Children

Background: Introduction: Unprotected UV exposure is the most preventable risk factor in the development of skin cancer, and almost half of total UV exposure by age 60 occurs in the first twenty years of life(1,2). As damaging UV exposing behaviors are often acquired in adolescence, it is imperative to promote sun-safety behavior among youth(3,4). Pilot studies of a facial photoaging smartphone application illustrating long-term effects of sun damage have demonstrated improved motivation to practice sun-safety behaviors among youth in Brazil and Germany(5-7). We sought to assess the preliminary success of the mobile photoaging intervention in promoting sun-safety behavior among adolescents in the United States.