Fotoenvelhecimento facial em bombeiros militares Gurupi-TO

Cutaneous photoaging results from chronic actinic damage induced by ultraviolet radiation (UVR), leading to structural collagen degradation and extracellular matrix alteration. Operational military firefighters experience continuous and prolonged solar exposure, representing a high occupational risk group. This study aimed to analyze the occupational profile, photoprotection habits, and facial photoaging degree among operational military firefighters at the 3rd Military Firefighter Battalion in Gurupi, Tocantins, Brazil. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with 20 male firefighters. Data collection included a structured questionnaire and a dermatofunctional examination, with staging by the Glogau Scale and grading of photodamage under Wood's lamp (365 nm). Mean age was 35.25 ± 6.44 years and mean service time was 9.08 ± 6.61 years. Daily sun exposure was 2 to 4 hours in 80.0% of participants, mostly in the afternoon (70.0%). By the Glogau Scale, 65.0% (n = 13) were classified as Type II and 35.0% (n = 7) as Type I. Under Wood's lamp, all participants showed photodamage (grade II: 20.0%; grade III: 55.0%; grade IV: 25.0%), with a grade higher than the clinical staging in 80.0% of cases (p < 0.001); this grade was not correlated with age or service time. Only 30.0% reported using sunscreen and 70.0% had never consulted a dermatologist. Service time was longer in Glogau Type II (10.44 ± 7.10 versus 6.57 ± 5.14 years), without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.21). Wood's lamp suggested subclinical photodamage not identified on visual examination, and low photoprotection adherence supports institutional measures and a preventive dermatofunctional protocol.