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TANNING FACTS: Skin Damage
UV exposure can result in both temporary and permanent damage to the body and skin, including:
Fact #1: Up to 90 percent of the visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun. [1]
Fact #2: Repeated sun exposure can cause what are commonly called age spots, or liver spots. [2]
Fact #3: Delayed Effects of Sun Exposure: The sun can cause skin to age, wrinkle, thicken, dry out, freckle, and blemish, and develop a rough texture. [3]
Fact #4:
Besides the discomfort of sunburn, other potential problems of excessive exposure to the sun exist. These range from fatal skin cancers to allergic reactions.
Skin damage from overexposure to the sun is cumulative over the years and cannot be reversed. Once the damage occurs, it cannot be undone.
Most serious and lasting damage occurs before age 18.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun will damage skin but can also create vision problems, allergic reactions, depressed immune systems, and skin concerns.
Premature Aging of Skin: Repeated exposure to the sun damages elastin fibers in the skin and accelerates the aging process. Skin loses elasticity, starts to sag and wrinkle, and becomes leathery. The damage is irreversible, with signs beginning to show in the early 20s on fair-skinned individuals. Once even a small amount of damage has occurred, repeated exposure to the sun increases the effect. Besides leathery, wrinkled skin, other signs of damage are brown patches or spots, or skin with a yellow or grayish hue. [4]
(The following information has been extracted from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) web site [Accessed on 15 May 2010] [5]).
What it is:
Sometimes referred to as “photoaging,” premature aging is the result of unprotected UV exposure. It takes the form of leathery, wrinkled skin, and dark spots.
Why it happens:
Although the causes of premature aging are not always clear, unprotected exposure to harmful UV rays break down the collagen and elastin fibers in healthy young skin, and cause wrinkles and loosened folds. Frequent sunburns or hours spent tanning can result in a permanent darkening of the skin, dark spots, and a leathery texture.
Symptoms:
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Wrinkles
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Dark spots
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Leathery skin
Treatment:
A dermatologist or plastic surgeon can develop a treatment plan based on your needs. Treatments can include chemical peels, dermabrasion, and skin fillers.
The Bottom Line:
Premature aging is a long-term side effect of UV exposure, meaning it may not show on your skin until many years after you have had a sunburn or suntan. Avoiding UV exposure is essential to maintaining healthy skin.
(The following information has been extracted from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) web site [Accessed on 15 May 2010] [6]).
What it is:
Photokeratitis can be thought of as a sunburn of the cornea. It is caused by intense UVC/UVB exposure of the eye. Photokeratitis is also called “snow blindness” because many people develop this condition at high altitudes in a snowy environment where the reflections of UVB are high. This condition can also be produced by exposure to intense artificial sources of UVC/UVB, like broken mercury vapor lamps, or certain types of tanning lamps.
Symptoms:
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Tearing
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Pain
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Swollen eyelids
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A feeling of sand in the eye
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Hazy or decreased vision
Treatment:
Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Your doctor can prescribe a topical solution which will aid your cornea in healing. Since the cornea usually heals in 24 to 48 hours, the symptoms are not long-lasting.
(The following information has been extracted from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) web site [Accessed on 15 May 2010] [7]).
What it is:
Cataracts are one form of eye damage that research has shown may increase with UV exposure. Clouding of the natural lens of the eye causing decreased vision and possible blindness are all effects of cataracts.
Other types of eye damage include cancer around the eyes, macular degeneration, and irregular tissue growth that can block vision (pterygium).
Symptoms:
Consult your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms.
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Clouded or spotty vision
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Pain or soreness in and around the eyes
Treatment:
Cataracts can be surgically removed.
The Bottom Line:
Wearing sun protection gear such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with 100% UV protection can help decrease the risks of eye damage.
(The following information has been extracted from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) web site [Accessed on 15 May 2010] [8]).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all people, regardless of skin color, are vulnerable to the effects of immune suppression. Overexposure to UV radiation may suppress proper functioning of the body’s immune system and the skin’s natural defenses, increasing sensitivity to sunlight, diminishing the effects of immunizations or causing reactions to certain medications.
In people who have been treated for an infection of the Herpes simplex virus, sun exposure can weaken the immune system so that it can no longer keep the virus under control. This results in reactivation of the infection and recurring cold sores.
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Liquid Sun®
- Skin Cancer Foundation [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts/]
- Skin Cancer Foundation [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.skincancer.org/what-is-photoaging.html]
- 'The Dark Side of the Sun: Sun Exposure and Agriculture' Julie Mitchell, National Ag Safety Database (Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://nasdonline.org/document/928/d000769/the-dark-side-of-the-sun-sun-exposure.html)]
- 'Sun Exposure: Precautions and Protection', Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet (Updated February 2007) [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5550.html]
- [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116432.htm#3]
- [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116432.htm#6]
- [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116432.htm#7]
- [Accessed on 17 May 2010 from http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/Tanning/ucm116432.htm#8]
