Here’s exactly how to work out if you have sun damage, according to a top dermatologist

Think you may have sun damaged skin? Read this…

As glimmers of warmer weather have now finally turned into a fully-fledged summer, you might find yourself spending more time in the sun. And while there’s a lot to love about this time of year – BBQs, Aperol and linen shirts, to name a few – possible sun damage is definitely not one of them.

Perhaps it was an accidental sunburn on holiday or you’ve had one too many picnics without reapplying your SPF50; maybe you’ve simply been enjoying the UK sunshine in your garden. The problem is, it also raises the question of what may be long-lasting sun damage of those inopportune naps in the midday sun – which can inevitably lead to sun damaged skin.

The stats, unfortunately, speak for themselves. According to a recent global CeraVe study, only 18% of people are applying sunscreen daily, despite 88% of people knowing that sun exposure can lead to sun damage. While it’s estimated nearly 80% of the visible signs of ageing are due to UV exposure, sun damage can also lead to severe skin conditions as well as skin cancer.

To find out more, we called upon two experts, Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, Consultant Dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, and Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe’s Consultant Dermatologist to talk all things sun damage…

What are the different signs of sun damage?

According to Dr Borysiewicz, sun damage – caused by the sun’s harmful rays – comes in many different forms. “Some of the different signs and symptoms of sun damage are age spots, uneven pigmentation, melasma [brown or grey patches of skin], freckles, moles, wrinkles, fine lines, skin laxity, spider veins and tanning are all signs of damage,” she explains.

While the list may seem extensive, especially to include a tan as a sign of sun damage, ultimately, a tan means that the skin has been exposed to too much UV, which stimulates an increase of melanin (the dark pigment that gives the appearance of a tan) in an attempt to prevent any further damage.

Can anyone experience sun damaged skin?

“Everyone can experience sun damage, regardless of skin type,” adds Dr Granite. “Sun damage in its most extreme form can lead to skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma,” she urges.

Can you still have sun damage even if you don’t burn?

“It’s important to realise that sun damage can still occur without creating a noticeable sunburn,” explains Dr Borysiewicz.

According to Dr Borysiewicz, how easily a person will burn depends on where they fall on the Fitzpatrick skin type scale, which categorises people into six skin types.

A person with skin type 1 is the palest, has blue or grey eyes, blonde or red hair, freckles and who always burns in the sun. A person with skin type 6 is the darkest, with brownish black eyes, black hair and who never burns.

“Depending on your Fitzpatrick skin type, the amount of time you can spend in the sun without burning will vary. However, skin damage may still occur across all skin types, even without the skin burning.”