Sunlight is essential for your skin, general health and well being. But too much of it can be harmful to your skin. Overexposure to the sun can damage your skin causing wrinkles, sunburn, suntan, rashes, skin cancer and other skin problems. This condition is known as photo damage or sun damage.
Types of sun damage
Most of the sun damage occurs on parts of your body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun such as your head, neck, face, hands, forearm and the lower regions of your legs.
Sunburn
Sunburn occurs due to overexposure to the sun. The temperature of your skin rises drastically and your skin becomes red and painful. It may even peel, swell or blister if there is severe sunburn. Consult your doctor if you experience dizziness, nausea and/or develop fever. Symptoms of sunburn usually go away after some time but the damage to your skin is permanent and can lead to skin cancer.
You are at an increased risk of developing sunburn when the sun rays are strongest, i.e. between 11 am and 4 pm. However, you may get sunburn even on a relatively cloudy day.
Suntan
Suntan is a result of injury to the outermost layer (epidermis) of your skin and your body’s desperate attempt to protect it from the ultraviolet (UV) rays by accelerating the production of Melanin. | 
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Suntan makes your skin look darker than its usual complexion. Melanin is a pigment, which gives your skin its normal complexion and protects you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Suntan may contribute to early aging and skin cancer. Much against popular beliefs, tanning is definitely not a sign of good health.
Click here to view an animation on suntan and sunburn
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Photoaging
Photoaging refers to the premature aging of your skin due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. Often characterized by wrinkles, fine lines, age spots and roughness on your skin, photoaging is different from the normal aging process of your skin. It makes you look older than your actual age.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are the fine lines or ridges on your skin. Everybody get wrinkles as they age. But too much exposure to the sun damages your skin and accelerates the aging process causing premature wrinkles.
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Skin cancer
Sun damage increases the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer occurs on 90% of sun-exposed areas of your skin such as your face, neck, ears, hands and forearms. Treatments are more successful if skin cancers are detected early.Some of the signs and symptoms of skin cancers include: - A sore that does not heal or heals only temporarily.
- Developing new moles or any change in texture or color of an existing mole.
- A new skin growth.
- Bleeding or change in the appearance of a bump on the skin.
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Sun allergy
Some people are hypersensitive to sunshine. Their Immune System reacts to sunlight resulting in an itchy red rash often in the sun-exposed areas. In severe cases, hives or blisters may develop and spread to other parts of the skin, even in clothed areas.
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What causes sun damage?
The sun produces two types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays—UVA and UVB. Frequent exposure to these harmful rays damages your skin. The UVA rays penetrate deep inside your skin and damages the Elastin and Collagen (fibers that make your skin supple and firm) in your skin. When the fibers are broken down by UVA rays, your skin begins to sag and loses its ability to stretch. Ultraviolet A rays are responsible for early aging (wrinkles) and skin cancer. But its effects usually appear only after a period of time.
Ultraviolet B rays damage the outermost layer of your skin and its effects can be seen immediately, just like sunburn. With repeated exposure to the sun, skin damage may lead to skin cancer.
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Ultraviolet rays are more intense during summer and the severity of the sun damage depends on the degree of exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet rays can harm your skin even on a cloudy day.
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Risk factors
Everybody is vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun. However you are at a higher risk if:
- You have fair skin. People with fair skin are less protected from the UV rays than the dark skinned people as fair skinned people have lesser amounts of Melanin in their skin.
- You do a lot of outdoor activities. The more you are exposed to the sun, the more damaged your skin becomes.
- You have a family history of skin cancer.
- You live near a mountainous region or close to the equator. Ultraviolet rays are stronger at these regions.
- Certain medications like antibiotics heighten your sensitivity to the sun making you more vulnerable to sun damage.
- You use tanning booths or sun lamps. Preventing sun damage
The best way to prevent sun damage is to avoid intense sun rays and take a few precautions. Some of the preventive measures include: - Avoid the sun when its rays are strongest, i.e., between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear tightly woven clothes so that the harmful UV rays cannot get through to your skin. Try to cover up your skin as much as possible.
- Apply generous amounts of sunscreen which has a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection from harmful UV rays. Wear the sunscreen 20 min before going out in the sun and reapply it for every 2–3 h. Do not forget to use it even on a cloudy day.
- Use water-resistant sunscreen if you are going for a swim or for any other strenuous activity in the sun.
- Avoid tanning booths or sunlamps as they produce harmful UV rays.
- Seek the shade whenever and wherever possible.
- Wear a sunglass which has 99–100% UV rays absorption to protect your eyes and its surrounding areas.
- If you notice anything unusual on your skin, consult your doctor
| | Risk factors for sun damage | | Having fair skin | | Doing outdoor activities | | Family history of skin cancer | | Certain medication like antibiotics | | Living near mountain region or closure to the equator | | Using tanning booths or sun lamps |
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Treatment
There are a number of over the counter as well as prescription products available for treating sun damage. However do not try any sort of self-medication. Consult your doctor for the most suitable treatment depending on the severity of sun damage on your skin. | | Tips to prevent sun damage | | Avoid the sun when its rays are strongest (10 p.m. to 4 p.m.). | | Use sunscreen lotions or creams. | | Try covering up your skin with tight woven clothes. | | Use hats and sunglasses. | | Avoid tanning booths and sun lamps. | | Seek the shade. | | See your doctor if you notice anything unusual on your skin. |
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