Breaking barriers for sun safety: Comprehensive tool for equitable protection

Summary: Abstract Body: Introduction: Skin cancer prevention requires effective sun protection, but access to sunscreen remains limited, especially for low-income families. Gaps in Medicaid coverage exacerbate financial burdens, with sunscreen costs consuming 1.1–2.3% of disposable income for Medicaid households. This study explores non-insurance initiatives to improve sunscreen access, focusing on community-based programs, tax incentives, employer-sponsored efforts, and public health campaigns. Methods: We conducted keyword-based internet searches and reviewed websites from governmental, nonprofit, and private organizations to identify sunscreen access programs. We evaluated each initiative based on cost, accessibility, implementation feasibility, and sustainability. We identified 80 sunscreen access initiatives. Programs were categorized into four types: 53 community-based sunscreen programs, 3 tax incentive initiatives, 4 employer-sponsored distribution programs, and 20 public health campaigns. Results: Community-based sunscreen programs accounted for 66% of identified initiatives, offering accessibility in public spaces like parks and beaches but required ongoing maintenance and funding. Tax incentives (4%) promoted widespread adoption but had limited immediate benefits for low-income families. Employer-sponsored programs (5%) provided targeted support but excluded broader populations. Public health campaigns (25%) raise awareness but do not address financial barriers to sunscreen access. None of these approaches matched the reach or impact of Medicaid-like programs, highlighting a critical gap in addressing sunscreen accessibility for underserved populations. Conclusion: Current strategies fall short of addressing sunscreen disparities. A centralized, scalable solution involving nonprofits, private entities, and government agencies is critical for equitable skin cancer prevention. Future work will focus on creating a resource to guide policymakers in closing these gaps. Joshua Kent¹, Celine M. Schreidah², Larisa J. Geskin² 1. University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, United States. 2. Dermatology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States. Minoritized Populations and Health Disparities Research