The warm rays of the sun sometimes feel so good on your skin that it’s hard to turn away. You may think you’re getting plenty of important D vitamins from the solar exposure. Plus, what looks better any time of year than the rosy glow from being outdoors?

Inherent Dangers

In fact, ultraviolet sun rays do considerable damage to your skin. Unprotected skin dries out under the harsh light and leads to a host of undesirable conditions that include:

• Depleting your skin’s natural oils
• Causing long-term changes in your skin
• Drying your skin out that leads to flakiness and premature wrinkles
• Burning that causes blisters and bumps filled with fluid
• Bruising easily even from minor trauma
• Developing moles that can turn into skin cancer
• Leaving pigment changes, such as white spots on your arms and legs
• Creating age spots before their normal time

The most common result of overexposure to the sun is premature aging, no matter how old you are. Other cosmetic reactions to UV rays include:

• Crow’s feet
• Scars
• Frown lines
• Broken and thinning hair
• Accelerated nail growth that can lead to increased fungal infections

Obvious Symptoms

You know when you get sunburned because your skin becomes red and sensitive to the touch. Sunburns aren’t always apparent while they’re happening, but later in the day, you notice the burn. Peeling often follows sunburns because your skin has been so dried out and damaged.

Other symptoms of sun damage are subtler, which is why it’s imperative that you maintain a regular schedule of check-ups with your BLUE VELVET dermatologist if you are in any of the above risk categories. When you feel unusual bumps or when parts of your skin that have been exposed to sun are itchier and drier than normal, you may be in the early stages of serous sun damage. You may also experience tougher skin, deeper lines and easier bruising on those areas that get the most sun.