Sun Savvy Sadly Lacking Among Americans

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"We also found that most individuals reported in engaging in two or more of the five risk factor behaviors," Coups said.

The worst age group, when it came to practicing risky behaviors, were those aged 18 to 29, Coups said, with 81.5 percent of them reporting two or more risky behaviors.

Among the 30- to 39-year-olds, 76.4 percent practiced two or more risky behaviors, and 70.3 percent of those aged 40 to 49 did. Among 50- to 64-year-olds, 60.4 percent admitted two or more risky behaviors, while 47.7 percent of those aged 65 and older did.

Men were more likely than women to ignore safe sun practices. Also more likely to practice risky sun behaviors were smokers and "risky" drinkers -- men who drank 15 or more drinks a week and women who drank eight or more drinks a week. Midwesterners, whites and those whose skin was not sun-sensitive were also more likely to skip sun precautions.

Dermatologists understandably find the results frustrating. "In spite of all the major efforts over the last 10 or 20 years, we haven't been making as much of an impact as we hoped," Cockerell said, noting that previous studies on sun protection behaviors have yielded similar findings.

The clustering of unhealthy behaviors -- such as smoking, drinking and not taking sun precautions -- may reflect a general attitude, he said. "I think it shows there is a segment of people who don't care much about their health," he added."

The findings correspond with the behaviors seen in patients, said Dr. Sandra Read, a dermatologist in private practice in Washington, D.C. The biggest mistake she sees in patients, she said, is infrequent and improper use of sunscreen. They don't apply it before they go out, she said, although applying is about 30 minutes before heading outside is recommended routinely.

"They don't apply enough," she added. A good guideline is to apply about a shot glass full, or about a golf ball-sized amount, to exposed skin. She tells patients to reapply it every two hours, more often if they perspire heavily or are in the water.