Actually, the painful symptoms of sunburn are caused more by the body's response to UVR skin damage than by the damage itself. Although no one really understands the whole process, UVR damage apparently triggers an increase of several chemical substances, including prostaglandins and histamines. Both substances contribute to inflammation. It is also absorbed less efficiently by the atmosphere. Much of what was once attributed to aging is now known to be caused by sun damage.
Old age can bring about roughness, fine wrinkling, and looseness of the skin.
Sun-exposed skin, however, is also marked by coarse wrinkling and elastosis, which gives the skin a pebbly, yellowed quality. Both wrinkling and elastosis are caused by damage to elastic fibers in the lowest level of skin, the dermis. Cataracts Another long-term effect of UVR exposure is the formation of cataracts. A cataract is any change in the structure of the lens that leads to a loss of transparency. Indeed, acute overexposure can lead to permanent or temporary blindness.