With the present condition our atmosphere is in, harmful rays from the sun pass through in
ever increasing amounts causing damage to the skin and hampering its ability to repair
itself. Over a period of time, a few minutes a day of exposure to ultraviolet rays results in changes to the skin (freckles, age spots, rough skin). An even graver symptom would be
the onset of skin cancer. Dermatologists call this effect photo ageing in reference to the
sun’s rays that reduce the production of collagen responsible for maintaining the skin’s
elasticity.
One’s susceptibility to photo ageing is determined by the amount of pigment in the skin as
well as the frequency and duration one spends under the sun’s rays. Given these factors,
fair-skinned individuals and those who spend long periods under the sun stand to have
more pronounced effects of photo ageing compared to those who are darker-skinned and
spend more time in the shade.