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Brush your teeth. Take a shower. Make coffee. Eat breakfast. This or something like it may be your morning routine, but it’s missing an important step: Put on sunscreen. Yes, every day.
Sun-damaged skin can sneak up on you. You probably know that you should wear sunscreen before spending a long time outdoors. But short periods of unprotected sun exposure can add up over time too — and not always from the obvious places. Eventually, it can lead to visibly sun-damaged skin and a higher risk of skin cancer.
What is sun damage?
Sun damage is also called photoaging, because it’s when ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun ages your skin. There are 2 kinds of UV light — UVA and UVB.
- UVA light damages skin at all levels, from its surface to its deepest layer.
- UVB light damages the outer layer of skin and your DNA, which can lead to cancer.
A simple way to remember the difference is that UVA rays are aging and UVB rays are burning. If you have darker skin, it’s less likely to burn — but it can still be damaged by UVA rays. Either way, too much UV exposure can lead to skin damage and increase your risk for cancer.
Signs and symptoms of sun-damaged skin
You’ll usually find signs of sun damage on the most visible parts of your body, like your face, neck, chest, and backs of your hands and arms. Sunburn is the most common symptom of sun damage on your skin, but it happens quickly and goes away within a matter of days. Other signs of sun damage might take years to appear.
How to tell if you have long-term sun damage
- Broken capillaries, usually around the nose
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Pigmentation changes, such as sun spots and brown patches of discoloration
- Red blotches
- Uneven skin texture
- Wrinkles
If you notice these kinds of changes in your skin, be sure to also look out for red flags that it’s something more serious. With pigmentation changes, the ABCDE rule (asymmetry, borders, color, diameter, and evolving) can help you figure out whether it’s sun spots or skin cancer.
How long does it take for sun damage to show up?
Short-term sun-damage symptoms like sunburn can show up within hours of too much UV exposure. Long-term symptoms of sun damage, like wrinkles and texture changes, can accumulate over years or decades.
You may notice signs of sun damage as early as your 20s or 30s. Or they may appear later, depending on your skin type and how long you’ve been exposed. If you have fair skin, for example, you’re more likely to notice signs of sun damage sooner.
Ways you may be getting sun damage
Sources of sun damage aren’t always obvious. You can get sun exposure one of 2 ways:
- Direct sun exposure occurs anytime you’re outdoors unprotected.
- Indirect sun exposure is when something is partially protecting you from the sun, like a window.
If you’re not wearing adequate sunscreen, these exposures add up and lead to lasting sun damage.
“People are running errands — 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there — or walking their dog, and they’re not taking into consideration the cumulative, short bursts that they’re getting,” says Sarah Adams, MD, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. “All of a sudden, they’ve been outside for an hour and a half and they haven’t worn any sunscreen or any sun protection.”
Examples of indirect sun exposure include:
- Short trips outdoors, like walking from a parking lot to a building
- Being under shade, like an umbrella
- Clouds covering the sun
- Sitting next to a window — like in your home or in a car, bus, or airplane
And yes, you read that last one right. So even if you’re home all day, you should wear sunscreen if you’re near a window. Windows usually block UVB rays, but not UVA rays. Time in the car can add up too.
“When I see patients in clinic, I notice more photoaging — more dark marks, more pigmentation — often affecting the left side of their face,” Dr. Adams says. “I can often tell that someone was a driver versus a passenger because of the amount of sun damage that there is on one side of their face versus the other.”
Your skin can also become more sensitive to the sun with certain medicine or skin products. So, read the labels or check with your doctor if you’re using:
- Acne medicine
- Antibiotics, particularly tetracyclines
- Some birth control pills
- Some heart medicine for arrhythmia
- Topical skin products such as retinols, glycolic acid, and other alpha hydroxy acids
Can you reverse sun damage?
The deeper health effects of sun damage can’t be reversed, like your risk for cancer. In that regard, there’s no treatment for sun damage to your skin. But you may be able to lessen some visible symptoms, like discoloration and wrinkles, with over-the-counter skin care products.
How to protect your skin from damage
Prevention is the number one way to avoid sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.
Apply sunscreen daily
Use sunscreen and protective lip balm with SPF 30 or higher every day to prevent sun damage. Look for a broad-spectrum formula, which protects from both UVA and UVB light. This works for both kids and adults.
Apply your sunscreen every morning, and reapply throughout the day. If you’re outside, aim to do it every 2 hours. Besides your face, apply it to other areas, like your ears, the sides and back of your neck, the V of your chest, and the backs of your hands.
Wear protective clothing
For extra protection, wear long sleeves and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Also invest in clothes with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).
Avoid peak sun hours
Limit how much time you and your family spend outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. But remember, UV rays can be a concern anytime the sun is up. If you have a mobile device, you can use a weather app to check the current UV index. If it’s 3 or higher, you should protect your skin.
By taking these healthy steps, you can help prevent sun-damaged skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer.