Increased Cost Diminishes Sunscreen Use: Report
Key Takeaways
Sunscreen application decreases as product cost increases, with a 1% drop in use per $1/oz increase.
Only sunscreen price and site of application significantly influenced how much was applied.
The authors urged dermatologists to factor in cost when recommending sunscreens to improve patient adherence.
Patients use less sunscreen when it’s more expensive, according to a brief report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) reported an inverse relationship between the cost per ounce of sunscreen and the amount applied, with usage decreasing by approximately 1% for every $1 increase in price. The findings, the authors said, support the hypothesis that sunscreen cost is a barrier to adequate application and may contribute to sunburns and increased skin cancer risk.
The study included 88 adult patients from UCSF dermatology clinics. Participants brought in their own sunscreen and applied the product to either their arm or face/neck based on personal routine. Investigators weighed the sunscreen containers before and after use, calculating the percentage of the recommended application (2.5g for face/neck; 3.0g for an arm). The researchers obtained sunscreen prices from product websites and standardized to cost per ounce.
Cost ranged from $0.60 to $36.40 per ounce across 32 brands. Higher cost was significantly associated with lower application amounts (P = .0016). The study also noted that patients applied more sunscreen to the arm than to the face and neck. Only cost and application site were predictors of application amounts among other variables examined (age, gender, and SPF).
The authors noted that annual sunscreen costs can exceed $2,300 for individuals relying on sunscreen alone during peak sun hours, potentially deterring adequate use. Generic options were often about 50% of the price of name brands.
“Integrating cost-conscious considerations when advising patients on sunscreen options for skin cancer prevention could better encourage adequate sun protection,” the authors wrote.
Study limitations included unverified participant purchase prices, as well as the exclusion of spray and stick sunscreens. Only lotion-based products were evaluated in the report.
Source: Fernandez K, et al. JAAD. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2025.01.007