MEDICAL

Photoaging is damage done to the skin from prolonged exposure over a person’s lifetime to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  Most of the skin changes that occur as we get older are accelerated by sun and tanning exposure. Early signs of photoaging include changes in pigmentation on the skin and the formation of wrinkles around area of skin commonly exposed to the sun, namely the eyes, mouth and forehead; spider veins on the face and neck; and loss of color and fullness in lips. Prolonged exposure to UV rays results in deepening wrinkles and forehead frown lines even when not frowning; telangiectasias around the nose, cheeks and skin; leathery skin and laxity; brown spots on the face and hands; and the appearance of possibly pre-cancerous red and scaly spots (actinic keratoses) and skin cancers.