What to Know About Chronic Sun Damage

Art of Skin’s Dr. Paul Lubitz On What to Know About Chronic Sun Damage

As most of us know, young, healthy-looking skin is something that’s almost universally admired and desired.  Unfortunately, long-term exposure to the sun can significantly lesson our chances of maintaining the appearance of clear, and healthy skin.

For many of us, especially those who enjoy exercising outdoors, some degree of sun exposure is a reality.  However, that does not mean that we shouldn’t be aware of the effects of excessive sun damage on our skin or what can happen to our skin if we do not take steps to regularly protect it from sun exposure.

The reality is that significant long-term sun exposure causes premature aging and deterioration of the skin, the development of precancerous and skin cancer lesions and other consequences to one’s skin health and appearance.  Exposure to ultra violet (UV) light, as for example when one goes tanning or sunbathing, is the most significant reason for premature aging of skin.  

Long-term exposure to UV light is responsible for dramatic changes in the texture and composition of one’s skin by contributing to the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers.  For example, UV light exposure can in some cases cause dramatic thickening of the skin and the production of course wrinkles and a cobblestone appearance in some areas of the body such as the back and sides of the neck, forehead, upper lip and chin.

As many of us are well aware, sun exposure and UV light can also cause various color changes to our skin.  Sun exposure can lead to the appearance of small blood vessels, called telangiectasias, in addition to various degrees of diffuse redness that are most often seen on one’s face, neck and upper chest.  Long-term sun exposure can also yield changes to various types of pigmented (brown) spots such as moles, diffuse brown colour (melasma), freckles (known as ephelides), keratoses and liver or age spots, as well as solar lentigos.

The most serious medical consequence of significant chronic sun damage is the development of various forms of skin cancer, such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which can result in serious consequences requiring potentially disfiguring surgery and even death.

These consequences to sun exposure are what people want to avoid.

Clearly, the effects that chronic sun damage have to one’s appearance is not a good or desired thing.  However, Dr. Paul Lubitz, a Canadian dermatologist who specializes in skin cancer prevention and treatment, with over two decades of experience and who currently practices in Canmore, is quick to point out that skin cancer concerns trump everything else.

“In Canmore, where I practice, we are at a higher elevation, which means greater UV radiation, and because of that, Canmore (and Bow Valley) residents need to be particularly mindful of sun damage and the fact that it can lead to increased skin cancer.  Add to this is the added risk which comes with the very outdoors oriented lifestyle that is prevalent in the mountain communities such as the Bow Valley where I live or Boulder, Colorado in the USA. These two factors can increase the risk for sun damage and skin cancer significantly. But, regardless of elevation, everyone should take steps to regularly to protect themselves from the sun and UV rays by, for example, regularly wearing an adequate level of sunscreen, sun protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.”

With that caveat in mind, technological advancements in dermatology and a greater understanding of skin physiology and disease have allowed dermatologists, as accredited skin specialists to be ideally trained to effectively treat the various effects and degrees of chronic sun damage, both medically ie skin cancer, and cosmetically ie redness, brown spots and wrinkles.

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