What is the effect of the sun on our skin?
Throughout the history of humans, we have had a special relationship with the sun. At times in history, we have even worshipped it.
The sun has been a long-standing part of the modern Australian lifestyle, too. We live in a country that has loved the outdoors lifestyle, with sport, outdoor activity, and nature like beautiful beaches.
While giving us much, the sun, amongst all its glory, has some particular effect on the largest organ in our body – the skin.
What does the sun do to your skin?
When we talk about sun exposure on the skin, there are two important things to consider.
On one hand, the contact of sun with the skin, specifically with UVB light, helps us make vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for a variety of functions in our body, including healthy bones. While the evidence is still developing, we think that it has a role in respiratory function, skin, and autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. The mechanisms are complex, and we are still beginning to understand these.
On the other hand, the sun can damage our skin in a variety of ways. Therefore, healthy sun exposure is a balance between managing sun time, ensuring protection with the Cancer Council’s SunSmart program’s Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide, and still getting enough regular exposure.
How does the sun damage your skin?
The sun damages our skin through a complex set of physiological processes. In a nutshell, it promotes inflammation in the skin, causes suppression of the skin’s immune system, promotes premature skin aging, and leads to a disruption in DNA mechanisms that can cause, for example, skin cancer.
With our love of the sun, Australia historically had among the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world.
Excess exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn. Sunburn occurs when skin has an inflammatory response to too much sun. Sunburn, which can last up to 3 to 7 days, generally resolves on its own.
Though the mechanisms of sun damage are generally the same, some of us are more prone to sunburn and skin cancer, because we are all built differently with different lifestyles.
Skin damage from the sun can manifest in dryness, wrinkling, loss of elasticity, the appearance of small blood vessels on the skin, and abnormal pigmentation. Sunburn can be a painful condition with red skin that can peel or even blister at times.
Skin cancers can manifest as moles, dark patches or other changes in the skin. If you have any doubt about a new change in your skin, see your healthcare professional at the earliest opportunity. You can also talk to your healthcare professional about whether regular skin checks are right for you.
In summary
Like many things in life, healthy sun exposure is about balance. With appropriate protection, like what is suggested by the Cancer Council, and good advice from a healthcare professional, we can all enjoy the beautiful world and live it up by the sun.
Related articles:
- What is SPF?
- What you need to know about sunscreen, according to experts
- How does Vitamin D affect the immune system?
- How to take care of the skin on your face
Reviewed by the Healthylife Advisory Board April 2024