Everyone's skin and eyes can be affected by the sun and other forms of UV rays. Although people with light skin are much more likely to have sun damage, darker-skinned people, including African Americans and Hispanic Americans, also can be affected.

People with darker skin tan more easily than others. But tanning is still a form of skin damage. Tanning occurs when UV radiation is absorbed by the skin, causing an increase in the activity and number of melanocytes, the cells that make the pigment melanin. Melanin helps to block out damaging rays up to a point, which is why darker-skinned people burn less easily.

People with lighter skin are more likely to burn. Sunburns are thought to increase your risk of skin cancer, especially melanoma. But UV exposure can raise skin cancer risk even without causing sunburn.

Aside from skin tone, other factors can also affect your risk of damage from UV light. You need to be especially careful in the sun if you:

• have lots of moles, irregular moles, or large moles
• have freckles and burn before tanning
• have fair skin or blond, red, or light brown hair
• were previously treated for skin cancer
• have a family history of skin cancer, especially melanoma
• live or vacation at high altitudes (UV radiation increases 4% to 5% for every 1,000 feet above sea level)
• live or vacation in tropical or subtropical climates
• work indoors all week and then get intense sun exposure on weekends
• spend a lot of time outdoors
• have certain autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, or "lupus")
• have had an organ transplant
• take medicines that lower your immunity
• take oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• take tetracycline, sulfa drugs, or certain other antibiotics
• take naproxen sodium or certain other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• take phenothiazines (major tranquilizers and anti-nausea drugs)
• take tricyclic antidepressants
• take thiazide diuretics (medicines used for high blood pressure and some heart conditions)
• take sulfonylureas (a form of oral anti-diabetic medication)

Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about the risk of any medicines you may be taking that could increase your sensitivity to sunlight.

Last Medical Review: 06/11/08
Last Revised: 06/11/08