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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Apr 5.
Published in final edited form as: J Health Psychol. 2011 Dec 20;17(6):929–940. doi: 10.1177/1359105311428536
Gain Frame Loss Frame
A Message about Sun Protection:
When You Use Sun Protection, You will Gain Benefits!
A Message about Sun Protection:
When You Do Not Use Sun Protection, You will Pay Costs!
When you wear sunscreen each time when you are in the sun, you will gain Benefits! When you do not wear sunscreen each time you are in the sun, you will pay Costs!
  • What are the Benefits of using sunscreen when in the sun?
    • You don’t look red ☺
    • You don’t get itchiness, irritation ☺
    • You don’t get sunburns ☺
    • No sunburns mean no pain, no hurting ☺
    • You don’t get blisters, peeling ☺
    • You are not sore for a couple of days, and you don’t lose sleep because of pain ☺
    • Your skin do not age quickly—no wrinkles or leathery, dry skin ☺
    • You reduce your chance to getting skin cancer, including melanoma ☺
    • The more consistently you use sunscreen when in the sun, the more likely you will gain these benefits ☺
  • What are the Costs of not using sunscreen when in the sun?
    • You look red ☹
    • You get itchiness, irritation ☹
    • You get sunburns ☹
    • Sunburns mean pain, hurting ☹
    • You get blisters, peeling ☹
    • You are sore for a couple of days, and you lose sleep because of pain ☹
    • Your skin ages quickly—wrinkles, or leathery, dry skin ☹
    • You increase your chance to getting skin cancer, including melanoma ☹
    • The less consistently you use sunscreen when in the sun, the more likely you will pay these costs ☹
When You Use Sun Protection, You will Gain these Benefits! When You Do Not Use Sun Protection, You will Pay these Costs!