Spots are just one of the many signs that improper exposure to UV rays can cause.
The skin benefits from sun exposure. We know how a good tan gives us a healthy appearance, how the sun stimulates the production of vitamin D, helps control certain chronic skin diseases (like psoriasis), strengthens bone tissue, and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. The sun also improves mood by activating a greater production of endorphins.
However, caution is necessary: if we expose ourselves to the sun without the proper precautions, skin complications can arise. It’s important, therefore, to define a few basic principles.
Let’s talk about phototype. A person’s phototype is an index used in dermatology to indicate the skin’s response to sun exposure, and it depends on the quality and quantity of melanin present under normal conditions, meaning without a tan.
Knowing your phototype is crucial for maintaining skin health and implementing the right defense mechanisms during sun exposure. Ultraviolet radiation increases the number of active melanocytes, stimulating the production of melanin.
This substance, present in large quantities in the skin, as well as in hair and parts of the eye, is not only responsible for tanning but also acts as a true filter, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of solar radiation. Melanin is, in fact, capable of reducing the penetration of ultraviolet rays into the deeper layers of the skin.
If we expose ourselves too much to the sun or don’t use effective sunscreen, our defense mechanisms are ineffective on their own. Excessive absorption of ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin damage of varying severity: this is referred to as photo-aging and photo-damage.
Photo-damage can be acute or chronic, and of varying severity, such as sunburn or sunburn blisters. It may occur, for example, when staying on the beach for many hours without sun protection. Chronic photo-damage is the result of prolonged and constant sun exposure over the years, due to work activities (such as farmers, sailors, or ski instructors) or improper education about sun exposure for recreational reasons.
Among the first negative effects are spots and skin discoloration: pigmentation disorders caused by the disorganized deposition of melanin. These appear primarily on the face, décolletage, or other areas most exposed to the sun.
Over time, direct UV exposure damages deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and, as a result, can increase the risk of certain skin cancers. Actinic keratoses can develop, which are early forms of skin cancer, or more serious skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Even the most severe form of skin cancer—melanoma—has excessive sun exposure as one of its main causes.
Getting too much sun, especially for those who are more photosensitive, increases the risk of developing these types of conditions. It’s important to consider the total time spent in the sun over the course of the year and in life (especially during childhood). Well-established scientific studies correlate an increased risk of various types of skin cancer with the amount of time and intensity of exposure. It’s enough to observe that skin cancers primarily appear on body parts most exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, neck, arms, shoulders, and back.
From an aesthetic standpoint, excessive sun exposure damages collagen, the most abundant protein in the skin, leading to the appearance of more or less pronounced wrinkles. Other phenomena such as dryness and skin dehydration may also occur, resulting in decreased skin elasticity and sensitivity, which leads to premature aging of our appearance.
Therefore, educating ourselves and those we care about, especially children, about proper sun exposure can help preserve us from the damage the sun will inevitably cause over the years. Using effective sun protection allows us to enjoy the benefits of the sun while also delaying skin aging.


Dr. Pierluca Venturino

Plastic Surgeon