It is fun to go under the sun and get a golden tan. But the collective damage that exposure does to your skin is no funny business, it actually causes serious skin issues including photo damage and cancer.

Sun exposure can actually cause cellular level damage to your skin. Here are the symptoms of skin damage to look out for:

1. Tanned skin might look good but it signifies injury to your epidermis which is the top most layer of your skin. It accelerates the effects of aging, dries out skin and causes wrinkling.

2. Redness and burning signals burning of the top layer of the skin by the UV rays. Your skin will be hot to touch and you will feel pain. It appears within hours of sun exposure, and you may need pain relievers and aloe Vera gel to soothe the skin.

3. Wrinkles are caused when the skin gets dehydrated under the sun and the UVA rays damage the skin fibers called elastin. When elastin breaks down the skin sags and furrows are caused as it loses its elasticity.

4. Age spots happen when excess melanin gets concentrated under one area of the skin. They generally appear on areas which get maximum sun like hands, chest, face. They are generally harmless, and vanish when the skin is covered or treated with acid peels and lightening creams.

5. Melasma appear as tan or dark brown patches on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. It also occurs when too much melanin gets deposited under the skin. It generally occurs in pregnant women but can be treated with prescription creams.

6. Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that appears is a red nodule on the skin or a scaly growth that is crusty and can bleed. It can occur on the nose, forehead, ears, lips, and hands. It is curable when caught early.

7. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer that can spread tp bones and organs if not treated on time. Signs of melanoma include change in appearance of a mole or a pigmented area on the skin. If the mole grows, has irregular edges then it signals towards melanoma.