What is sun damage?

Sun damage
Sun damage is changes in the skin that are due to the sun’s damaging impact on the skin. Sun damage is often seen on the exposed areas of the skin such as scalp, face, throat, back of the hands and lower arms. However, sun damage can also be serious without being visible to the naked eye. In step with being exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the skin breaks down under the surface and deep down and reinforces the aging process. In some cases, sun damage can result in skin cancer. Therefore, it is very important to be respectful of the sun’s rays.

Symptoms of sun damage

• Often, sun damage cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be seen with an ultrasound scan.
• The skin becomes raw, peels and becomes pinker or a yellowish-brown colour
• It is seen most often on those areas that are most exposed to the sun: the scalp, the face, top of the chest, the hands and lower arms.
• In the early stages, the skin will be rough and like sandpaper, and it may later become thicker with dandruff.
• Spots can appear on the skin if you have exposed the skin to the sun for longer periods without taking good care of it.
• Sun-damaged skin can often be recognised by the skin being more delicate and having deep wrinkles.

Sun damage without symptoms
Sun damage to the skin can also be invisible, in which case an ultrasound scan is necessary in order to form an overview of the scope of the sun damage. Sun damage can also appear even on young skin. Even though you have nice-looking skin on the surface, sun damage can mean that the skin ages faster and you will see wrinkles and lines sooner. Here, it is important to repair and strengthen the skin so you can postpone the aging of the skin and minimise early wrinkles and lines.

How does sun damage occur?
Sun damage occurs when the skin has been exposed to the sun’s damaging effects over several years. These types of sun damage are seen most often on people with light skin tones, as they can get sunburned more easily. Of course, sun damage can also impact people who do not have a light skin tone, for example people who work outdoors on a daily basis.

What should you be especially aware of?
If you suffer from sun damage, it is important that you are aware that it may develop into skin cancer. Therefore, you should have your skin examined by your doctor if you have a light skin tone and discover thickened, peeling changes on the areas exposed to the sun that have developed over many months.
If you have birthmarks that change, you should contact your doctor.

Prevent or avoid sun damage
If you want to prevent or entirely avoid sun damage, then you must protect yourself against the sun. Avoid strong sun, cover your skin, wear a hat and, most importantly, use sunscreen with a good SPF, preferably SPF 20/30 with factor 15 as the minimum.

The skin becomes more and more dry as we age; therefore, the need for a good moisturiser increases in step with ageing.

If you would like to learn more about sun damage and how it occurs, then watch this video.