The tanning response is a sign of ultraviolet damage. The western search for the suntan has led to an increased incidence of photoaging and skin cancer of light-skinned individuals. Photoaging is characterized by wrinkling, coarseness, dryness, mottled pigmentation, loss of elasticity, easy bruising, telangiectasias, and benign, premalignant and malignant growths on sun-exposed areas.

Photoagings is a slow process, taking decades to become clinically apparent and even longer for all the manifestations to occur. Development of photoagings is determined both by genetic skin type and by the total lifetime radiation dose. Photoaging is more apparent in light-skinned Caucasians than in dark-skinned people.

Although it is not possible to state what proportion is due to chronologic aging and what is due to photoaging, it has been estimated that photodamage may account for greater than 90 percent of the age- associated cosmetic problems of the skin.

The proliferation of natural tanning and tanning salons should be discouraged by physicians. There is no safe tan.