Dermatologists know that a tan does not prevent sun damage, it is sun damage. Tanning occurs when the UV rays penetrate the skin and injure the pigment cells. The effects are cumulative, and with every burn, the skin becomes more damaged. People who work or lay in the sun without sufficient protection get sagging cheeks and deep wrinkles that may make them look much older. The sun can also cause unsightly red, yellow, gray, or brown spots and scaly growths that may develop into skin cancer.
Skin cancer is caused by too much sun, both long-term exposure and bad sunburns.
More than 90 percent of all skin cancers occur on parts of the body exposed to the sun. The face, neck, ears, forearms, and hands are the most common places for skin cancer to develop. The three main types of skin cancer are basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a small, shiny, fleshy nodule on the exposed parts of the body. When diagnosed and treated early, it has a high cure rate.