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The sun – your friend and foe

Sunlight activates vitamin D, kills some germs and improves your mood. But too much of it damages the skin irreparably. Here’s exactly what happens.

Immediate effects

  • Skin turns red;

Delayed effects

  • Sunburn appears about four hours later
  • Skin begins to look tanned after two or three days
  • The skin's upper layers thicken

Long-term effects

  • Wrinkles and other signs of premature aging
  • Cancers may develop

Learn the signs of skin cancer:

  • A skin growth that increases in size;
  • A mole, birthmark or beauty mark that changes color, increases in size or thickness, changes in texture or is irregular in outline;
  • A spot or growth that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed; and
  • An open sore or wound on the skin that does not heal or persists for more than four weeks, or one that heals and then reopens.

If you have any of these signs, consult your doctor immediately.

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