JAMA Dermatol

Sunscreen prices may influence patients’ sun‑protective habits

March 5, 2026

In this economic evaluation, investigators modeled real‑world scenarios—beach days vs. indoor or outdoor work—and found wide cost swings depending on product price, clothing coverage, and application frequency. A week at the beach cost $6.57–$115.12 when wearing shorts and $7.75–$135.82 when wearing a bikini, while annual costs ranged from $39.80–$688.56 for indoor workers and $81.53–$1,429.42 for outdoor workers. These large differences highlight how cost can drive underapplication, even with similar SPF formulations.

Clinical takeaway: Guide patients toward lower‑cost sunscreens and protective clothing to maintain consistent UV protection and reduce financial barriers.

Source:

Mundada M, et al. (2026, February 18). JAMA Dermatol. Sunscreen Costs in Association With Sun Protective Behaviors. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41706462/