Many people love to bask in the warm sunshine, whether it’s playing sports, taking walks, or just laying out on the beach or in a lawn chair, seeking that reportedly “healthy glow” on their skin. Unfortunately, that “healthy glow” on their skin is actually damage to the epidermis, the top-most layer of skin.1
This damage is caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. The more times and the longer time that your skin is exposed to UV radiation, the greater the amount of damage that is done to your skin. This means the greater the chance that you will contract skin cancer at some point in the future.
Sun Damage Can Lead to Premature Aging Skin
When you receive a suntan, you are receiving too much sun exposure. This can lead to rapidly-aging skin, skin that is older than your actual age. As bad as your skin aging quicker than it should sounds, it’s not as great of a concern as the damage that could be occurring underneath your tanned skin.2 
When the sun continues to shine upon your skin, your skin will increase the production of melanocytes. These cells are what produce the brown pigment known as melanin, which causes your skin to become darker after being exposed to the sunlight for an extended period of time.
Sometimes, uneven pigmentation can occur, as there can be an uneven pigmentation of the skin. In addition, the sunlight can permanently stretch the small blood vessels in your skin, leading to a ruddy, reddish tone of your skin.3
While those people with darker complexions have more melanin in their skin, they too can suffer skin damage if they receive too much sun exposure. Their skin will show irregular pigmentation and wrinkles as a result.
In addition to the increased amount of melanin your body produces when it receives too much sunlight, your body is unable to create new collagen, which is the main component of connective tissue and is a vital protein to the health of your skin. Plus, old collagen is broken down by repeated exposure to sunlight and its harmful ultraviolet radiation.4
Prolonged exposure to sunlight can also impact your skin’s elastin. Elastin allows your skin to bounce back after it is stretched or pulled. This is why your skin will show more wrinkles and more signs of being leathery and loose earlier in life if you spend a great deal of time in the sunlight.5
Changes in Your Skin to Be Aware of
It is important to note that not all changes in the skin are the presence of or will lead to skin cancer. In fact, most moles and other growths are noncancerous and can remain on the skin without any risk to a person’s health. However, many people will have moles removed if they are in a location that is constantly irritated by clothing or if they are in a location that can be easily seen by many.
There are many types of skin growths that are actually noncancerous:6
- Birthmarks, also known as “congenital nevi,” are moles that have been on a person since birth.
- Acquired moles, which first appear early in adolescence, can grow and darken through a person’s teenage years. A typical adult will have 40-60 acquired moles after going through his or her teenage years.
- Liver spots, also known as “solar lentigines,” are a direct result of exposing your skin to much sunlight. Liver spots will also cause your skin to accelerate to an older age before its time.
- “Seborrheic keratoses” are tan or brown growths that appear as people grow older. They are often raised and wart-like in appearance.
- “Cherry angiomas” also appear as people age; these are smooth, red spots that often appear on the back and chest and they often are in the shapes of domes.
- Skin tags are soft flaps of skin that grow on specific regions of the body that experience much friction over an extended period of time. These areas include the neck, the armpit, and the groin.
As there are many types of noncancerous skin growths, it is sometimes difficult to recognize when a skin growth can be precancerous. However, there are some warning signs you should be on the lookout for:7
- Any new growth on your skin
- Any changes in appearance, size, color, or shape of an existing skin growth
- Any sore that does not heal after a reasonable period of time
This is why it is vital that you report any unusual skin growths to your doctor right away. Only he or she can determine when a skin growth is cancerous.
The Sun Can Be Quite Dangerous to the Health of Your Skin
While many people believe they look healthier by getting a good suntan, the truth of the matter is that suntans cause considerable skin damage, and this damage is accumulative. The more suntans and sunburns you receive, the more damaged your skin will be, and the quicker it will age, leading you to appear older than you actually are.
Combine that sobering thought with the fact that repeated, unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation can increase your chances of developing skin cancer, and that is all of the more reason why you should avoid any prolonged exposure to sunlight. In addition, you should notify and see your doctor right away if you see any suspicious-looking growths on your skin, as only he or she can determine for sure if those growths are cancerous or not.
References
1 Slide show: Sun damage – MayoClinic.com. (2010, May 1). From MayoClinic.com: www.mayoclinic.com/health/sun-damage/SN00021
2 Slide show: Sun damage – MayoClinic.com. (2010, May 1). From MayoClinic.com:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/sun-damage/SN00021&slide=2
3 Slide show: Sun damage – MayoClinic.com. (2010, May 1). From MayoClinic.com:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/sun-damage/SN00021&slide=3
4 Lodish H, Berk A, and Zipursky SL et.al. Collagen – The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix. (2000). Molecular Cell Biology. W.H. Freeman and Company.
5 Causes of Aging Skin. (2010). From American Academy of Dermatology: www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/basicfacts.html
6 Skin Cancer Symptoms. (2011). From Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=symptoms
7 Ibid
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