by Jeannette Payne

Created on: May 10, 2011   Last Updated: May 12, 2011

It’s nice to get out into the sunshine. The sun can be very good for the body to a certain extent but there are always times when it’s possible to catch too many UV rays, otherwise known as ultraviolet radiation. There are three different classifications for these rays based on their wavelength – UVC, UVB, and UVA.

UVC radiation is absorbed by the skin and does not cause any damage. UVB radiation is generally responsible for the sun burns and is the strongest between 10:00 am and 2:00pm. UVA radiation has had its strength misunderstood for many years and has the capability to create a lot of skin damage. This type of ray is more intense than the others, penetrates the skin to deeper levels and is not filtered out by glass unlike the UVB radiation. Both UVB and UVA radiation types can cause skin damage to varying degrees.

Skin Problems Caused by Sun Exposure

There are many skin problems that are caused by too much sun exposure. These can be caused over both short and long periods of time. The bulk of them can be prevented through protecting the skin while outside through wearing the proper clothing or wearing sunscreen. Once the problems are caused however, a number of them do have treatments.

Breakdown of Collagen

The dermis, or the outer layer of skin, has a high level of collagen in it. This keeps the skin flexible and smooth. Normally, over time, collagen breaks down but excess exposure to the sun and UV radiation quickens this process. This can cause solar scars which come from collagen fibers being disorganized. When this happens repeatedly, wrinkles form.

Solutions: There are different solutions to help with collagen breakdown caused by sun exposure. Collagen supplements do exist and can help with fixing this skin problem. However, this alone will not complete the task.

Skin care products designed specifically for this issue can be of assistance and there are also skin peels and laser treatments. These last two options are quite commonly used to repair skin problems such as these. They are used to stimulate the production of new collagen therefore replacing the damaged material.

Photoaging

Photoaging takes into account many skin problems caused by sun exposure. This term refers to a group of skin changes. Not all of them affect those who have prolonged exposure to the sun, and some individuals experience them to a greater degree than others. The symptoms of photoaging include a blotchy appearance of the skin, a change in the pigment

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