Consumers have a wide range of choices when it comes to protecting their skin from ultraviolet (UV) damage, with annual costs varying significantly based on the products and methods used. According to a recent analysis by researchers at UC San Francisco, individuals can spend as little as $40 or as much as $1,400 per year on sun protection.
The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, revealed that sunscreens with the same 50 SPF rating and similar active ingredients ranged in price from $0.04 to $3.79 per application. This represents a 17-fold difference in cost for comparable protection.
Sunscreen is recommended by experts to prevent skin cancer and other forms of sun damage. However, research indicates that higher sunscreen prices may lead people to use less than the recommended amount, which reduces its effectiveness.
“Encouraging the use of lower-priced sunscreens and other sun protective behavior like wearing hats, long sleeves, and long pants could lead to better protection,” said Maria L. Wei, M.D., Ph.D., a UCSF professor of dermatology who specializes in skin cancer, especially melanoma, the most aggressive form. “Less expensive sunscreen, with the same active ingredients and same SPF, is as photoprotective as the more expensive, in terms of protection from UV radiation.”
The researchers compared three types of lotion sunscreens—the most commonly used form—using 2025 market prices. They considered various scenarios such as spending time at the beach wearing shorts or a bikini versus working indoors dressed in long-sleeve shirts and pants. The analysis also accounted for how thickly sunscreen was applied and how often it needed reapplication.
Costs varied widely depending on exposure levels and clothing coverage. For example, spending a week at the beach could cost between $6.57 and $115.12 for someone wearing shorts or between $7.75 and $135.82 for someone in a bikini. Annual costs ranged from about $39.80 to nearly $689 for those working indoors; outdoor workers might spend anywhere from approximately $81 to over $1,429 per year on sun protection.
To ensure adequate coverage for all exposed skin areas, researchers advised applying about an ounce—or one shot glass full—of sunscreen each time.
Other authors of the study include Maya Mundada and Jeffrey Schneider, M.D., both affiliated with UCSF. Dr. Wei is also associated with the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the San Francisco VA Health Care System.
