Wrinkles and Other Sun Damage

What can the sun and tanning beds do to my skin?

• The UV radiation can cause skin cancer
• Treatment of skin cancer with radiation and chemotherapy can leave your skin damaged
• Surgical removal of skin cancer can leave permanent scars
• People can die of skin cancer
• The sun and tanning beds can cause early aging of your skin including:
• Wrinkles
• Moles
• Freckles
• Sagging
• Leathery skin

When does sun damage start to appear

Most of us believe sun damage only starts showing up in people in their late thirties or forties.
The truth is that sun damage can start happening in young people in their teens and early twenties who have had repeated sunburns and a lot of UV (ultraviolet) exposure. We just cannot see this with the naked eye...
These pictures taken with a special UV camera reveal what's really going on.
Compare these with normal colour photos.

The UV camera photo (right) of Dylan, age 20, of BC, shows dark, freckle-like spots across his nose and cheeks - areas where he said he has had repeated sunburns and lots of unprotected sun exposure. He also had frequent sunburns in an area on his chin, shown in the darker area under the corners of his lower lip. This photo was taken in winter, months after summer sun exposure.

The UV camera photo (right) of Carly, age 21, of BC, shows a lot less sun damage, although there are some darker spots on and around the nose area. While she has had a lot of UV exposure, she did try to protect her face.

Does damage from a tan disappear with time?

While a suntan disappears, sun damage is remembered by the skin. UV rays affect the skin's DNA, disrupting normal development. This can be seen in premature skin aging - wrinkles, coloured blotches, saggy and leathery skin - and skin cancer down the line. Compare the skin on your cheek, which has been exposed to the sun, to the sun-shielded skin under your arm to see the signs of early sun damage.