Symptoms You Might Have Sun Skin Damage In Prescott, AZ
We all know that too much sun exposure can damage the skin and send people to SunWest Dermatology & Skin Cancer Treatment Center for treatment, but how much is too much? While the amount of safe sun exposure will vary among individuals, your body will let you know when you've had too much sun if you are paying attention. Here are five sun damage symptoms you will want to watch out for.
Dry Skin
Oftentimes, the first sign of sun damage is dry skin. Your skin may be flaky, slightly wrinkled and tight, and it may feel itchy as well. While this symptom can be easily treated with a good moisturizer, it can also be a good sign that it is time to get out of the sun.
Sunburn
The next symptom of sun overexposure, sunburn, is the most well-known. What many people do not know, however, is that it isn't just the shade of red that matters (though deeper red sunburns are generally more damaging). Even a little bit of tan color is the result of the skin seeking to protect itself from the effects of the sun. Your skin doesn't have to be badly burned to be damaged.
Premature Aging Of The Skin
While many people purposely seek out a tan to improve their appearance, the truth is that too much tanning can actually cause the opposite effect. Over time, sun exposure can cause the skin to develop fine lines and wrinkles. It can cause the skin to look leathery, to lose it's elasticity and to develop thick yellow bumps--none of which are particularly attractive.
Sun Spots
Seek to change the color of your skin and it just may change in a way that you hadn't intended. Sun exposure doesn't just give you a golden glow; it can also cause freckles, sun spots and discoloration. While sun spots are generally harmless, they do sometimes lead to a type of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
Skin Cancer
Of all the symptoms of sun exposure, this last one is the most frightening of all. Cancer can spread quickly or develop over time and it often shows no symptoms at first. Therefore it is essential that you visit Sunwest Dermatology & Skin Cancer Treatment Center regularly if you have any reason to think you may develop skin cancer.
While a little sun exposure is healthy, too much sun exposure can lead to serious health conditions such as cancer. Avoid these symptoms of sun exposure by wearing sunscreen regularly, by staying out of direct sunlight in the middle of the day when the sun is the strongest.