Prevent Solar Skin Diseases Years of frequent and prolonged exposure of skin to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun results in a variety of changes in the skin. While skin of darker complexion may seem to offer greater protection from acute sunburn, people of all complexions are susceptible to developing skin lesions resulting from the cumulative effects of sun exposure. Photoaging results from chronic ultraviolet radiation superimposed on intrinsic aging. Photoaged skin usually appears coarse, thickened and pebbly, with prominent wrinkling and irregular hyperpigmentation. These include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.
Malignant melanoma is the least common but, by far, the most dangerous of the skin cancers.
If not diagnosed and treated early, malignant melanoma can result in death within months of appearance. Consult your physician if you notice any changes in a pre-existing mole, or the sudden appearance of a new mole. Early recognition and surgical removal of superficial lesions usually results in complete cure. Basal cell carcinomas are the most common of the skin malignancies. These typically present as a skin sore that does not heal.