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Sun Damage —Debunking Myths
From Myths to Manifestations: The Clinical Face of Sun Damage
DFPC Team
September 11, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Welcome back, DERM Community!
Last week, we shed light on acne marks and scars, breaking down how they form and how to treat them.
This week, we’re shifting our focus to a universal but often misunderstood issue:
Sun Damage.
Despite being one of the most common drivers of skin aging and disease, misconceptions around it still shape how patients protect (or fail to protect) their skin.
It’s time to separate fact from fiction and trace the very real clinical consequences of everyday UV exposure.
Featured on This Week’s Chapter:
Understanding and Managing Sun Damage
Sun Damage: Debunking Myths → Fact vs. fiction on UV exposure.
From Myths to Manifestations → How patient misconceptions translate into visible clinical changes.
Clinical Pearls → Evidence-based takeaways for photoprotection.
Book Recommendation → The Molecule of More: dopamine’s role in patient adherence.
Inspiration of the Week → A timeless reminder from Benjamin Franklin.
Sun Damage: Debunking Myths
The myths patients believe (see graphic 1) often explain why they delay protection. But as clinicians, we witness the consequences daily (see graphic 2):
Wrinkles & Sagging: UV-A triggers matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade collagen and elastin → premature aging.
Hyperpigmentation: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, and lentigines are exacerbated by UV exposure, especially in Fitzpatrick IV–VI.
Dryness & Rough Texture: Chronic UV alters the stratum corneum barrier, increasing transepidermal water loss.
Spider Veins & Ruddiness: UV-induced vascular damage contributes to telangiectasias and persistent erythema.
Field Cancerization: “Normal” sun-exposed skin often harbors mutations, explaining why actinic keratoses cluster in these regions.
Patient education should connect the dots between their everyday myths (“I don’t need sunscreen on cloudy days”) and the visible, structural changes we treat (“These spider veins and wrinkles are UV-A damage”).
When patients understand cause → effect, adherence to photoprotection strategies improves dramatically.
Clinical Pearls
Cumulative UV damage is a major driver of photoaging and skin cancer, even from low-level daily exposure.
SPF alone isn't enough: Broad-spectrum coverage and reapplication every two hours are essential.
Topical antioxidants like Vitamins C and E can augment sunscreen efficacy against free radical damage.
Frame sun protection as daily health maintenance, not an occasional task for better adherence.
We’ve Put Together a Free Guide Just for You!
Looking for simple ways to keep your skin healthy?
Our Maintaining Healthy Skin course combines practical, case-based learning to help you understand common skin concerns, strengthen your skills in prevention and care, and build confidence in guiding patients toward long-term skin health.
Book Recommendation of the Week
“The Molecule of More” by Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael E. Long
A deep dive into dopamine’s influence on motivation, behavior, and habits. Insightful for understanding patient adherence patterns in dermatologic care, like sunscreen compliance, treatment routines, and lifestyle changes.
Inspiration of the Week
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
-Benjamin Franklin
👋🏻 See you next Thursday, DERM community!
This week, we busted sun damage myths.
Next week, we’ll dive into a high-stakes topic: Abscesses — how to spot them early, avoid common missteps, and apply the latest treatment protocols.
If today’s insights gave you a clearer perspective on sun damage, pass them along to your colleagues, trainees, or care teams: they’ll thank you for it.
— The Derm for Primary Care Team
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