How does sun exposure change your skin?

What changes can you see?

How does sunlight cause these changes?

Sunlight contains ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared radiation. UVB is the main cause of sunburn and directly damages DNA, the instructions inside cells. UVA reaches deeper into skin, contributes strongly to premature aging and causes indirect DNA damage. UVC is largely absorbed by the atmosphere before reaching skin. These differences explain why sun damage includes both surface changes and effects deeper in the skin.1

UV is not the only part of sunlight that affects skin. Visible light, especially blue light, can influence pigmentation and oxidative stress, a process that can damage cells. Infrared radiation can contribute to heat damage and the production of reactive molecules. For practical protection, the central concern remains UV exposure because of its established links with sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer.1

Why does a tan fade?

Melanin offers some natural protection against UV rays. Sunlight prompts skin to make more of this pigment, producing a tan. The colour fades as new cells reach the surface and the tanned cells are shed. That visible fading is different from accumulated sun damage: repeated UV exposure over many years remains a major cause of skin cancer.2

Is every sign of aging caused by the sun?

Facial aging has several causes, so the sun cannot claim sole authorship. Natural aging, gravity, smoking and other factors also change the face. Sun related premature aging is called photoaging. Wrinkles and texture changes reflect both natural aging and sun exposure, while uneven pigmentation is particularly associated with UV exposure.34

Sagging is not a precise measure of how much sun someone has had. Among 298 white women aged 30 to 78, sagging was more closely linked to chronological aging, while women with greater sun exposure had more pigmentation changes. The often repeated figure that UV causes 80% of visible facial aging comes from this specific group, not a universal calculation for every face or skin tone.4

How do you prevent more sun damage?

1. 1Before going outdoors, plan for shade and clothing that covers exposed skin, rather than relying on sunscreen alone.
2. 2Apply sunscreen as part of that protection. Protect skin every day, including when the weather is cold or overcast.
3. 3Limit total exposure time. Avoid direct sun between 10 am and 2 pm rather than treating sunscreen as permission to stay out longer.
4. 4Stop using tanning beds. Their UV exposure adds to skin damage.
5. 5Keep using sun protection during treatment for existing damage. Further UV exposure can interfere with results and increase treatment side effects.

Does skin tone change the risk?

People with less melanin who burn easily need particular care with sun exposure. Fair skin with inadequate natural UV protection is especially prone to dryness, freckling, fine wrinkles and skin cancers. More pigment does not remove the need for protection: shade, clothing and sunscreen are recommended for people of every skin tone.256

Can existing sun damage be treated?

Much sun damage is permanent, but treatment can reduce some visible signs. Cosmetic treatments target different visible changes, which is why 'rejuvenation' is a menu heading rather than one procedure. The right choice depends on whether the concern is colour, lines, texture or loose skin.37

Resurfacing procedures smooth skin by removing or treating its surface layers. Fillers are injected beneath skin to disguise selected lines, while botulinum toxin reduces the activity of muscles that create expression lines. These are different jobs, not interchangeable versions of the same treatment. Brown spots and visible blood vessels also require different laser approaches.7

Cream based approaches are used over the long term, including on the face, neck and hands. Options include topical retinoids, fruit acids and vitamin C. There is no single timetable for all of these approaches: a daily cream, an injection and resurfacing are different treatments. Prescription products and procedures should be chosen for the particular change being treated, rather than added all at once.37

Which changes need a doctor?

Check skin regularly for suspicious growths or other changes, and have them assessed. Dry, scaly patches can be actinic keratoses; some develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Before cosmetic treatment, a dermatologist should check for skin cancer because a cancer can be mistaken for an age spot. Early detection and treatment matter more than improving the spot's appearance.23