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National Sunscreen Day

A U.S. observance on May 27 promoting daily sunscreen use and skin cancer prevention awareness at the start of summer.

Thursday

May 2027

Last updated March 18, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 27

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYHealth

SUBCATEGORYWellness

ORIGIN

Institutional Initiative

FOUNDING ENTITY

National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

FIRST OBSERVED

2011

HOW THE HOLIDAY CAME TO BE

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated National Sunscreen Day as a fixed annual observance on May 27, with listings first appearing around 2011. The Council, established in 1998 as a coalition of health organizations, had previously launched its 'Don't Fry Day' campaign with the EPA in 2008 on the Friday before Memorial Day.

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Between May and August, the UV Index in most of the continental United States regularly reaches levels that can cause sunburn in under 15 minutes of unprotected exposure. National Sunscreen Day falls on May 27, positioned at the start of this peak window as a public health checkpoint.

The observance was established by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, the same coalition that partnered with the EPA to launch "Don't Fry Day" in 2008. While both campaigns share a sun safety mission, National Sunscreen Day anchors the message to a fixed calendar date, making it a yearly prompt to verify that the single most effective tool against UV-induced skin damage is in your bag and not expired.

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ORIGINS

Sunscreen Day history

INTRODUCTION

Humans have shielded themselves from the sun for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians applied extracts of jasmine and rice bran to their skin, and zinc oxide paste has been used as a protective barrier across many cultures. But modern sunscreen, the engineered product designed specifically to absorb or reflect ultraviolet radiation, has existed for less than a century.

The turning point came in the 1930s and 1940s. Australian chemist H.A. Milton Blake formulated one of the first commercial sun-protective creams in the early 1930s. In 1935, Eugène Schueller, the founder of L'Oréal, produced Ambre Solaire, a tanning oil with UV-filtering properties.

CHAPTER 01

A sunburn on a Swiss peak

In 1938, Swiss chemistry student Franz Greiter suffered a severe sunburn while climbing Mount Piz Buin in the Alps. That experience drove him to develop Gletscher Crème (Glacier Cream) in 1946, a product that would become the foundation of the Piz Buin brand. Greiter went further: in 1962, he introduced the Sun Protection Factor, the measurement system that gave consumers a standardized way to compare sunscreen strength.

CHAPTER 02

Wartime innovation and the rise of Coppertone

During World War II, American pharmacist Benjamin Green developed a protective substance using red veterinary petroleum to shield soldiers from tropical sun in the South Pacific. After the war, Green refined the formula into a consumer product that became Coppertone suntan cream, one of the first mass-market sunscreens in the United States.

CHAPTER 03

Regulation catches up

The FDA adopted the SPF system in 1978, classifying sunscreens as over-the-counter drugs. For decades, most sunscreens only protected against UVB rays, the wavelengths primarily responsible for sunburn. It was not until 2011 that the FDA finalized its broad-spectrum labeling rule, requiring products to demonstrate protection against both UVA and UVB radiation.

CHAPTER 04

From Don't Fry Day to National Sunscreen Day

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, a coalition formed in 1998 to unite health organizations around UV safety education, launched "Don't Fry Day" in 2008 in partnership with the EPA's SunWise Program. That floating observance falls on the Friday before Memorial Day. Around 2011, the Council also designated May 27 as National Sunscreen Day, anchoring the sun safety message to a fixed calendar date. The observance has since been adopted by dermatology practices, skincare brands, and public health campaigns as an annual prompt to check sunscreen supplies and application habits before summer begins.

TIMELINE

National Sunscreen Day Timeline

Franz Greiter creates Glacier Cream

Swiss chemist Franz Greiter developed Gletscher Crème, one of the first modern sunscreens, inspired by a severe sunburn he sustained climbing Mount Piz Buin in 1938. The product launched the Piz Buin brand.

Sun Protection Factor introduced

Franz Greiter developed the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measurement system to quantify how well a sunscreen shields skin from UVB radiation. The metric became the global standard for sunscreen labeling.

FDA adopts SPF for labeling

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally adopted the SPF rating system and began classifying sunscreens as over-the-counter drugs, subjecting them to federal safety and efficacy standards.

Don't Fry Day campaign launches

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and the EPA's SunWise Program designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don't Fry Day to encourage sun-safe behaviors at the start of summer.

National Sunscreen Day established

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated May 27 as National Sunscreen Day, creating a fixed-date annual observance separate from the floating Don't Fry Day. The same year, the FDA finalized its broad-spectrum labeling rule for sunscreens.

Sunscreen Innovation Act signed

The Sunscreen Innovation Act became U.S. law, requiring the FDA to expedite review of new sunscreen ingredients and modernize the sunscreen monograph. The act aimed to bring the U.S. closer to the broader range of UV filters already approved in Europe and Asia.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Sunscreen Day

Check your sunscreen's expiration date

Sunscreen loses effectiveness over time. The FDA recommends discarding any sunscreen past its printed expiration date or more than three years old if no date is listed.

LEARN

Learn the correct application amount

Most people apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends about one ounce, enough to fill a shot glass, for full-body coverage, reapplied every two hours.

SCHEDULE

Schedule a skin cancer screening

Use National Sunscreen Day as a reminder to book an annual skin check. The Skin Cancer Foundation provides early detection resources and guidance on finding a provider near you.

TEACH

Teach a child the slip, slop, slap routine

The slip-slop-slap campaign (slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat) originated in Australia in 1981 and remains one of the most effective sun safety mnemonics. Adding 'seek shade' and 'slide on sunglasses' rounds out the five-step habit.

AUDIT

Audit your daily skincare for UV protection

Dermatologists recommend wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, not just at the beach. Review your moisturizer and foundation to see if they include UV protection, and consider adding a standalone sunscreen to your morning routine.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why National Sunscreen Day is Important

A $13 billion global industry still growing

The global sunscreen market was valued at approximately $13.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $20 billion by 2034. Demand is driven by rising skin cancer awareness, the popularity of daily-wear formulations, and expanding consumer adoption in Asia-Pacific markets.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with an estimated 9,500 people diagnosed every day. Having five or more sunburns doubles an individual's risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease.

Daily sunscreen use cuts melanoma risk in half

A landmark Australian study found that daily sunscreen application reduced melanoma incidence by 50%. SPF 30 blocks approximately 97% of UVB radiation, while SPF 50 blocks about 98%, making even modest, consistent use highly effective.

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