Abstract
Tinted sunscreens are important for the management of pigmentary disorders and can offer better aesthetics compared to their non-tinted counterparts. However, high prices and limited access pose barriers to access for many skin of color patients. This study assesses tinted sunscreen availability and cost in Detroit, MI versus wealthier surrounding suburbs. Tinted sunscreen products in CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid stores in Detroit, Troy, and the Bloomfield area were catalogued and analyzed. Detroit has a much lower per capita income and a higher non-Caucasian population compared to Troy and the Bloomfield area. Our findings show that Detroit has significantly fewer tinted sunscreen products per store (mean 3.6 for all stores, 5.2 for CVS) compared to the Bloomfield area (mean 6.2 for all stores, 9.6 for CVS). Bloomfield's mean price per ounce ($21.67) was significantly higher than Detroit ($16.99) and Troy ($17.24), however, no differences emerged after excluding unique products. Significant differences were also seen in the mean SPF between all areas. These findings suggest that lower-income and higher skin of color areas have limited tinted sunscreen accessibility, which may contribute to reduced sunscreen usage and increased disease burden for these communities.