What Are the Long-Term Effects of Repeated Intense Sun Exposure?

Sitting out in the sun can produce an increase in melanin, which results in a darkened skin tone known as a sun tan. However, the long-term effects of repeated intense sun exposure are extremely detrimental to your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Ultraviolet (UV) light, the invisible but intense rays of the sun, damages your skin." Unprotected exposure to these UV rays can harm your physical health over time.

Aging

• Photoaging is the term used to describe changes in the skin that the sun causes. While the natural effects of aging can include a thinning of the skin and wrinkles, repeated sun exposure increases both the speed and the severity of the aging process. Some typical photoaging effects include deep wrinkles, very thin skin, visible red veins on facial features and a reduction in skin elasticity.

Tumors

• Both benign and malignant skin tumors are the direct result of repeated intense sun exposure. Seborrheic keratoses are one example of the benign tumors that the sun's UV rays cause. These tumors can either be tiny or upward of an inch across and are generally dark. Cancerous melanoma are an example of malignant skin tumors that overexposure to the sun causes. Benign moles can change into cancerous moles via too much exposure to the sun, or new, malignant moles can form in areas that have suffered extreme exposure to UV rays.

Suppressed Immune System

• According to the New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation, "Sunburn can change the distribution and function of disease-fighting white blood cells in humans for up to 24 hours after exposure to the sun." It goes on to say that repeated exposure to sunburn-causing UV rays can cause harmful suppression of the immune system's disease and infection-fighting capabilities.

Eye Damage

• You can literally burn the surface of your eye via prolonged sun exposure. While your eyes generally heal quickly, repeated and intense sun exposure can result in accumulated damage in the form of cataracts, which cloud the surface of the eye lens. If cataracts are not treated promptly, they can lead to permanent blindness.