Ultraviolet, or UV, light from the sun is essential to life on Earth, but too much exposure isn't healthy. Two types of UV light, UVA and UVB, penetrate the Earth's ozone layer and can cause problems. Although only 2.3 percent of the sun's UV rays actually reach the Earth's atmosphere, according to Science Learning, UV light still has a significant impact on your health.
Skin Damage
UV light causes skin to burn and darken, damaging the top layers of the skin. While some people may view tanned skin as a sign of health, it is actually a sign of damaged skin. Tanning can damage the skin whether the tan comes from the sun's UV rays or an artificial UV light. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. UVA rays cause skin to tan, while UVB rays cause sunburn.
Skin Cancer
Both UVA and UVB light contribute to the development of skin cancers include melanoma and non-melanomas. Melanomas are the most serious form of skin cancer and appear as a change in a mole or a new mole or growth on your body. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that while melanoma accounts for approximately 3 percent of skin cancer cases, it causes more than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths. Two types of non-melanoma skin cancers -- squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma -- can also occur due to sun exposure. These cancers may appear as bumps or scaly patches on the skin. While non-melanoma skin cancers are less deadly than melanomas, the EPA reports they can spread if untreated and can cause disfigurement and serious health problems.
Premature Aging
Too much sun exposure over the years can make you look older than you are. UV exposure causes wrinkles, leathery skin, age spots, loose skin and freckles. The amount of previous sun exposure and your skin color will determine how much your skin is affected. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that these conditions occur because the skin loses its ability to repair itself after repeated sun exposure and damage accumulates.
Eye Damage
Exposure to UV light can damage the corneas -- the transparent coverings over the fronts of the eyes -- and can trigger the formation of cataracts. A cataract occurs when the clear lens located behind the iris of your eye becomes cloudy. The EPA reports that UV light exposure can cause other kinds of eye damage -- including skin cancer around the eyes, degeneration of the macula which is the area of the retina responsible for central vision, and pterygium, a tissue growth that can block vision.
Immune System Effects
Getting a tan may reduce your body's ability to fight off disease. Overexposure to UV radiation may suppress proper functioning of the body's immune systems and natural defenses, making it more difficult for you to fight cancer and infections, according to the EPA.
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