A recent analysis by researchers at UC San Francisco has found that protecting skin from ultraviolet (UV) damage can cost as little as $40 or as much as $1,400 per year, depending on the type of sunscreen used and how much additional protection is provided by clothing and hats.
The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, compared sunscreens with a 50 SPF rating and similar active ingredients. The researchers discovered that the cost per application ranged from $0.04 to $3.79—a difference of 17 times between the least and most expensive options.
Experts emphasize the importance of daily sunscreen use to help prevent skin cancer. However, higher prices may lead people to use less sunscreen than recommended, reducing 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 analyzed three lotion-based sunscreens—the most commonly used form—using 2025 pricing data. They calculated costs for various scenarios: spending a week at the beach in shorts or a bikini; working indoors with long sleeves and pants; or having an outdoor job requiring frequent reapplication.
Their findings showed that a week at the beach could cost between $6.57 and $115.12 for someone wearing shorts, or $7.75 to $135.82 for someone in a bikini. Annual costs ranged from $39.80 to $688.56 for indoor workers and from $81.53 to $1,429.42 for those working outdoors.
To ensure proper coverage across the entire body, researchers recommend applying about one ounce—or roughly a shot glass full—of sunscreen each time.
Other contributors to this study include Maya Mundada and Jeffrey Schneider, M.D., both affiliated with UCSF. Wei also holds appointments at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and the San Francisco VA Health Care System.
