Sun Damage Explained

Sun damage (also known as photodamage) of the skin can either be acute like sunburn, or chronic like the gradual changes of the skin caused by an accumulation of sun exposure throughout your life. Chronic photo damage results in either a cosmetic change in the skin's appearance, such as fine and coarse wrinkles, or changes that are of medical and health concerns, such as pre-cancerous lesions. The sun can also change skin through freckles, discolored areas of the skin, sallowness and more. There's very strong evidence that ultraviolet light is the cause of most of the changes associated with the premature signs of aging skin.

Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin, the substance in the body that is responsible for color (pigment). Exposure to sunlight is a major cause of hyperpigmentation, and will darken already hyperpigmented areas.