I have acute sensitivity to the sun. Science has shown us that the sun can damage skin. Too much sun causes premature wrinkling and that leathery look, which is neither attractive nor healthy. The most serious effect of overexposure to the sun is skin cancer. Even though UV wavelengths are very small, they have high levels of energy that penetrate your skin and change the structure of your skin cells.
Some skin cells make melanin, which creates brown coloring.
When UV rays enter your skin, they turn on melanin production, so you tan. Melanin gives you some natural protection from sun damage. People with darker skin have more melanin than do people with fair skin. That means darker skin has more natural protection. The higher melanin levels in your skin may just make it harder for you to detect skin damage, so use sunscreen to keep your skin safe.