How Does Excessive Sun Exposure Cause Skin Cancer?
• Effects of Sun Exposure • Time spent in the sun can turn your skin a pleasing golden brown. Too much sun, however, and you could pay the cost for a lifetime. Excessive sun exposure leads to premature aging and dry, wrinkled skin. It also increases your risk for skin cancer. Even protective sunscreens may not provide full protection from harm. • Mechanism of Skin Damage • Sunlight reaches Earth in two forms: Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). According to the American Academy of Dermatology, UVA exposure leads to premature aging, wrinkles and tanning. UVB causes sunburns. Both types can severely damage the skin and can cause skin cancer. Often mistaken as a sign of good health, a tan actually means the sun has damaged your skin. To protect itself, the body has produced more melanin, a substance that darkens the skin. • Development of Skin Cancer • People with lighter skin have a higher risk of sun damage. If you are at risk, too much time in the sun will give you tough leath
