Sun Damage is Probably Your Longest Relationship

Sun Damage is Probably Your Longest Relationship | RefinedMD, Los Gatos + San Jose

Sun Damage is Probably Your Longest Relationship

The older you get, the more brown spots and age spots pop up on your skin. RefinedMD has a number of treatments available to take care of those spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. A lot of people want to know why sun damage doesn’t show up until you’re well into adulthood. The reality is that, with the exception of sunburns and tans, most sun damage can take years or decades to appear.

Immediate sun damage, such as a burn, is actually just one sign of sun damage. When possible, your skin will protect itself from further damage by producing extra melanin—or a tan. When the sun damage is too intense, skin burns. However, what’s happening well below the surface is even more dangerous.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of any cancer, including skin cancer. It is especially linked to those with a history of blistering sunburns, but anyone can develop melanoma. Other forms of skin cancer, such as basal cell and squamous, aren’t necessarily linked to any particular type of sunburn. Any type of sun damage and exposure can ultimately lead to skin cancer development.

Skin cancer is the most dangerous type of sun damage, but less risky damage like wrinkles and age spots can put a serious dent in your self-esteem. People who naturally have more melanin in their skin seem to “age better” because they have a built-in defense against the sun. However, they should still wear sunscreen and reapply it every 75 minutes when exposed to the sun. Just because sun damage isn’t obvious doesn’t mean it hasn’t occurred.

Schedule Your Annual Skin Check Today!

You have likely been exposed to sun damage since the day you were born. As adults, most of us weren’t raised with parents who faithfully slathered us with quality sunscreen every time we were outside. Our skin is paying the price for it now, but it’s never too late to start a good sunscreen regimen. Get your annual skin check today at RefinedMD, and work with our sun damage experts to develop a skin care and sun damage prevention routine that works for you.