Despite the risks that the sun’s harmful rays pose, Samantha Dauby, track and field member and sophomore, said she never wears sunscreen at practices, or ever at all. She is one of many high school students who, according to recent studies, opt out of using sun protection and are contributing to the decline in sunscreen usage in adolescents.

“I don’t wear sunscreen because I usually don’t get burnt very easily. My skin is not very sensitive,” Dauby said. “Not very many people on track wear sunscreen either.”

According to CNN, in a study published in Pediatrics, a group of 360 students were surveyed on their sunscreen usage. In fifth grade, 50 percent of students used sunscreen on a regular basis, but in eighth grade, only 25 percent of them continued the same amount of usage. Furthermore, students were more likely to report being sunburnt in the past year, especially fair-skinned individuals.

Ginat Mirowski, an Indianapolis-based dermatologist in private practice, said she has recently seen a shift in her patients’ skin protection against the sun, as shown by these studies.

“I have seen a few melanomas in young individuals who all tanned and show signs of aging, such as freckles and fine wrinkles in others,” Mirowski said.

Also, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, rates of melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, have been steadily increasing for the past 30 years. Melanoma has become the second most frequent form of cancer occurring in young adults ranging from 15-29 years old.

Mirowski said that the results of these two studies are linked to each other.

“The rise in melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer, is directly related to UV exposure and is highly impacted by this behavior,” Mirowski said.

Mirowski said she thinks adolescents stop sunscreen usage as they get older in an attempt to test limits of their newly gained freedom. During the years of adolescence, parents yield less control over their children’s decisions, especially in terms of sun protection.

Mirowski said, “I think this is due to the students starting to pull away from their parents and trying to assert their independence. It is not due to their critically evaluating the facts and making an educated decision.”

According to Dauby, another reason why she thinks students don’t wear sunscreen, especially during sports practices, is because of the limited amount of time they have to get ready. For instance, student athletes who practice on the school’s campus have to force their way through the crowds after school, walk down the trail, and change into athletic attire in a matter of twenty minutes. This is true in Dauby’s case.

Dauby said, “I think it just takes too much time to put on, and people don’t really think about it, especially at track practice. We don’t really have enough time to put on sunscreen before practice.”

In addition, Dauby said the coaches have not yet mentioned anything about sun protection or recommended students apply sunscreen.

Mirowski said parents and authoritative figures at school can prevent this from happening by taking certain precautions and informing students, and educating students about the issue can reverse the problem.

“(Adults can) provide sun protection and sun breaks, avoid outdoor practices in the middle of the day and encourage athletes to wear sun protection,” Mirowski said.

Dauby said she believes the main reason for the decrease in sunscreen use is the attitudes of students. She believes that if students’ opinions about sun protection don’t change, then these statistics will not change.

Dauby said, “I don’t think people think the sun is as strong as it is in Florida as it is here. They don’t wear sunscreen because they just don’t take it very seriously.”

For more about the harmful effects of UV radiation on the skin: