Health Problems Associated with Excessive Sunlight Exposure
(The following list is comprehensive, although not necessarily exhaustive. Contact your healthcare professional for more information.)
Aged Skin
Skin aging is a process of changes in the structure and elasticity of the skin over time. It may be a normal part of aging or it may be due to the effects of ultraviolet radiation, usually through exposure to sunlight. Increased exposure to sunlight directly increases skin wrinkling and aging.8
Skin Cancer
Skin cancers include squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. Both are very common, but generally curable with conventional treatment. Excessive exposure to sunlight has been linked to both.9 Excessive exposure to sunlight is also strongly linked to malignant melanoma, the most life threatening but least common form of skin cancer.10
Cataracts
Cataracts develop when damage to the protein of the lens of the eye clouds the lens and impairs vision. Cataracts are more likely to occur in those who are exposed to excessive sunlight, which leads to oxidative damage. Oxidative damage to the lens of the eye appears to cause cataracts in animals11 and people.12 Sunglasses are believed to reduce this risk.
Macular Degeneration
The macula is a portion of the retina in the back of the eye. Degeneration of the macula is the leading cause of blindness in elderly Americans.13 Sunlight triggers oxidative damage in the eye, which in turn is believed to contribute to macular degeneration.14 In theory, sunglasses should reduce this risk.
Photosensitivity
Several conditions, such as erythropoietic protoporphyria and polymorphous light eruption, share the common symptom of hypersensitivity to light—typically sunlight. People with photosensitivities need to protect themselves from the sun by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing (such as long-sleeved shirts), and avoiding excess exposure to the sun. People taking certain prescription drugs (sulfonamides, tetracycline, and thiazide diuretics) and those diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus are more likely to overreact to sun exposure.15,16 The herb St. John’s wort could, theoretically, make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, but this is rare when used at recommended levels.17 However, fair-skinned individuals should be alert for any rashes or burns following exposure to the sun.