The Real Cost of Sunburns
Supplemental Health
After the sunburn fades, lasting damage remains.
While sunlight is essential for vitamin D and overall health, over-exposure to UV rays is harmful. Your mom may have warned about the dangers of sunburn, even on a cloudy day. It turns out she was right. You can burn on an overcast day since up to 80 percent of UV rays can penetrate clouds.1
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Most sunburn symptoms typically resolve in a few days, however severe sunburns that develop severe blistering and pain are treated as accidents. Sun blisters signal a second-degree burn, meaning the burn has damaged the skin’s outer layer (epidermis) and also the layer beneath it (dermis).3 Over 33,000 sunburns require emergency department visits each year, for a total estimated cost of $11.2 million.4
Over the long term, sunburns can become even more costly. Sunburn is the leading cause of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer. In the U.S., more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day and more than two people die of the disease every hour.5
Fortunately, most sunburns are preventable. The following steps can help you stay sun-safe and reduce your risk for skin cancer:6
- Cover your skin. Look for the UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) on clothing and hat labels. A shirt labeled UPF 50 allows just 1/50th of UV radiation to reach your skin.
- Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15. Re-apply as instructed on the product label. While there are many options out there, the best sunscreen is the one you will use every day.
- Avoid full sun. Especially in the afternoon when UV rays are the strongest.
- Be sun-aware when traveling. Passenger windows on cars, airplanes, trains and buses allow UVA rays to pass through. Use protective clothing and sunscreen.
- Check out apps like ‘Sun Exposure.’ It provides daily sun tracking and smart sun guidance
Not only do sunburns cause physical discomfort, but they can also lead to ER visits, hospital admissions, cancer, and the associated costs of illness and treatments. Supplemental health insurance can help alleviate the financial burden.
Accident insurance pays a cash benefit for second-degree burns and medical treatment.
Hospital indemnity insurance helps cover costs if you’re hospitalized due to a sun-related condition.
Critical Illness insurance pays a lump-sum benefit upon diagnosis of a covered critical illness such as skin cancer.
A few preventive measures today could make a world of difference in your future health. While your burn will heal, the damage will be done, so take care to prevent sunburn – not just at the beach or pool, but every day.
1 “UV Safety, The Global Solar Ultraviolet Index,” United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA.gov, accessed May 2025.
2 “Sunburn & Your Skin. The Facts. The Risks. What You Can Do,” skincancer.org/risk-factors/sunburn/, accessed May 2025.
3 “What you need to know about sunburn blisters,” MedicalNewsToday.com, February 2025.
4 “Health and Economic Benefits of Skin Cancer Interventions,” CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, accessed May 2025.
5 “Cancer Facts and Figures 2025,” American Cancer Society, cancer.org, accessed May 2025.
6“Sun Protection: Your Daily Sun Protection Guide,” skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection, accessed May 2025.
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