What is Sun Damaged Skin?

It feels good to spend time in the sunshine, but it can take a toll on your skin.

That’s because the sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) light that damages your skin and causes sunburn. Over time, these rays can lead to wrinkles, dark spots, abnormal discoloration, uneven skin tone, freckles or skin cancer. The result: You can add years to your looks. Research shows that UV exposure is the reason behind 80% of your skin’s aging.

When your skin is exposed to UV rays, without protection, the rays can damage and even kill skin cells. This can cause dryness and skin pigmentation. As the outermost layer of the skin is damaged by UV exposure it thickens and becomes dehydrated, leading to rough, flaky skin. The sun’s rays can also damage the skin’s elastin that help the skin to stay smooth, supple, and youthful looking.

Sun damage can lead to permanent cosmetic concern. Moreover, long-term sun damage can increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Thus, the fewer unprotected sun exposure a person has, the lesser the risk of skin cancer.

President Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD- states, “Practicing sun protection is important year round, not just during the summer, when you adopt safe sun practices, you’ll go a long way toward preventing additional damage”. The best way to avoid sun damage is to use protection that includes hats, sunglasses, clothing and sunscreen if you cannot completely avoid sun exposure.

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2013; 6: 221–232. Published online 2013 Sep 27.