Even though most dermatologists recommend sunscreen to prevent skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, nearly all of them believe patients aren’t getting the message, a small U.S. study suggests.

In a survey of 156 U.S. dermatologists, every single one of them agreed that sunscreen reduces premature aging of the skin, or photoaging, and 97 per cent agreed that it also lowers the risk of cancer.

But 99 per cent of them also think their patients don’t apply enough sunscreen.