PERCEIVED CLIMATE-RELATED SKIN CHANGES AND SUN-PROTECTION BEHAVIORS AMONG ADULTS IN TBILISI, GEORGIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY-BASED STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52340/jecm.2025.06.14Keywords:
Skin health, climate change, environment, sun protectionAbstract
Adults in urban settings may experience skin changes related to climate and adjust their protection behaviors accordingly. This cross-sectional online survey of adults living in Tbilisi, Georgia (final sample n = 296), explored sun-protection routines, perceived climate-related skin changes and dermatology service use. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, dermatology visits and complaints, changes in sun-protection behavior over the past 5 years, perceived climate-related skin changes and interest in information on climate and skin. Most participants were middle-aged women; almost half had never visited a dermatologist. About two-thirds reported increasing their sun-protection routine, mainly using SPF creams, and 60% perceived climate-related skin changes, predominantly dryness, sensitivity, acne flares and pigmentary changes. In multivariable analyses, increased protection independently predicted perceived climate-related changes, while both perceived changes and frequent dermatology visits independently predicted greater protection. These findings suggest that climate-related skin concerns are common and that risk perception and dermatology contact may be important levers for strengthening preventive skin-health behaviors in a warming urban environment.
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