How does sunburn damage skin

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The B-Cell Lymphoma Moon Shot is revolutionizing the conventional medical research approach to rapidly translate findings into patient treatment options and develop personalized therapeutic strategies. When the sun reaches the skin, it damages the skin cells and causes mutations that can eventually lead to melanoma and other types of skin cancer.

When ultraviolet radiation from the sun reaches the skin, it damages the skin cells and causes mutations in their DNA. Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow and bring immune cells to the skin to help clean up the mess.

All this causes the redness, swelling and inflammation we associate with a sunburn. The sunburn will eventually heal, but some of the surviving cells will have mutations that escape repair. These cells could eventually become cancerous. Some beauty products claim they can reverse sun damage or even stimulate cell repair.

But no research has shown that any topical skin care product or lotion can reverse sun damage. But there are lots of simple ways to prevent it by being sun-safe and avoiding sunburns. My Chart. Donate Today. For Physicians. Cancer Moonshots. March What happens to your skin when you get a sunburn. Remember how bad this sunburn felt, then commit to protecting yourself from the sun every day, all year long.

Young skin heals faster than older skin, but it is also less able to protect itself from injury, including injury from the sun.

Babies under 6 months of age should never be exposed to the sun. Babies older than 6 months should be protected from the sun, and wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their eyes. If your child becomes sunburned, follow these guidelines:. Find out how to keep your skin safe from damage by stopping sunburn from happening in the first place: Your Daily Sun Protection Guide.

The Facts. The Risks. What You Can Do. What is sunburn? What you need to know about sunburn Sunburn risks to you If you get sunburn Sunburn treatment and relief Sunburn prevention. What you need to know about sunburn. Some people are more prone to sunburn: Skin type determines your susceptibility; people with fair skin run the greatest risk. But anyone can get burned. Even without a burn, sun exposure raises skin cancer risk.

Even if you are tan or your skin type is dark and your skin does not redden, the sun can cause cellular damage that can lead to cancer. The UV index is a factor: The sun varies in intensity by season, time of day and geographic location. A high UV index means that unprotected skin will burn faster or more severely.

Be careful, especially when the sun is strongest. But even when the index is low, the risk remains. Protect yourself every day of the year. Up to 80 percent of UV rays can penetrate clouds.

Light pink is still bad: No matter how mild, every burn is a sign of injury to your skin that can result in premature aging and skin cancer. Sunburn risks to you. Repeated sunburns raise your risk. For fair-skinned people, especially those with genetic predisposition, sunburn plays a clear role in developing melanoma.

Research shows that the UV rays that damage skin can also alter a tumor-suppressing gene, giving injured cells less chance to repair before progressing to cancer. People who work or play sports outdoors have a greater risk of frequent sunburns that can result in skin cancer.