Sunburn

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Sunburn is the damaging effect on the skin of the ultraviolet (UV) light contained in sunlight. With too much exposure to UV light, your skin overheats and becomes red and painful, and may later peel or blister.

Ultraviolet light causes changes in the surface and in the deeper layers of the skin. It reduces the stretchiness of the skin and can cause premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, as well as the formation of age spots. Deeper in the skin, it causes changes in the structure of cells, and increases the risk of skin cancers.

When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces a pigment called melanin to help protect itself against ultraviolet light. This is what makes your skin go darker and is what you see as a suntan. It stops you burning so easily but doesnâ€™t prevent the other harmful effects of UV such as premature aging and cancer.

The less melanin you have, the less protected you are against the effects of UV light. If you have fair skin or red hair, or have not been in the sun much, you have less melanin so are more likely to burn quickly.

Sunburn doesnâ€™t just happen in hot weather â€“ reflection of light off the snow can also cause sunburn. Although a breeze, cloudy sky or swimming may make you feel cooler, the sunlight can still get through to damage your skin.