7 Dangerous Signs Of Sun Damage That You Should Never, Ever Ignore

"Age spots" are brown speckles that look a bit like extra-large freckles. They are also sometimes called liver spots or, not too surprisingly, sun spots.

That's because these brown concentrations of pigmentation are the result of sun exposure, sometimes building up over years.

They are mistakenly called age spots because older folks have had more exposure to the sun and have more fragile skin, so these dots show up more often.

It's a misnomer, though: anyone can get sun spots. They show up frequently on the hands, arms, chest, and face.

Wrinkles are widely considered a sign of aging, but once again, these fine lines have more to do with sun exposure.

Scientist believe that 80 percent of all wrinkles are caused by UV light damage. That's because over time, UV rays beat into the skin and break down collagen that keeps the surface taut and firm.

In response, the skin becomes looser and starts to fall into wrinkles.

When people shield their skin from the sun, they sometimes forget to slather SPF on their lips.

In the short term, you might get a painful, itchy sunburn on your lips that peels and is sore, just like any other sunburn.

Over time, your lips might become chronically dry, chapped, and cracked as a result of too much sun exposure. This condition is called actinic cheilitis, and should be watched carefully.

The sun doesn't just cause damage to your skin — it can also impact your hair and nails.

Your hair can't get freckles or develop cancer, but it can still take a beating from too much exposure to the sun's rays.

The sun pulls moisture out of your hair, which can leave it bleached, dried, and straw-like. This kind of sun damage requires a lot of TLC and conditioning.

Too much exposure to the sun can cause reddish-brown patches to develop on your skin. These are usually rough, raised, and a bit scaly. They may feel like scabs.

If you notice this happening to your skin, get a dermatologist's opinion right away.

This condition is called actinic keratosis and is often a symptom that indicates that a spot might become cancerous.

You can slather your skin with sunscreen to block the sun's rays, but it's harder to protect your eyes. Sunglasses are great, but aren't always practical.

Surfers, for instance, can't always wear sunglasses while they're on the water and end up getting a lot of sun damage to their eyes as a result.

That's why a condition called pterygium is also known as surfer's eye. It's a pink, white or clear plaque that starts growing on the surface of the eye.

It's usually harmless, but can turn into cancer, or into a cataract-like plate that blocks vision.

As you get older, you may have noticed your neck starting to sag slightly.

This common condition is sometimes called "turkey neck" and is usually considered just another part of aging.

In fact, developing sagging skin at your neck is just a sign of too much sun exposure.

Sunbathing with your neck exposed to UV light breaks down the collagen that keep your neck and chin skin taut. When that collagen breaks down, the skin softens and collapses slightly.

You can't reverse every little bit of damage that the sun does to your body, but you can heal a lot of the worst of it.

For one, it's never too late to start wearing sunscreen. Even if you've already had a burn or 20, layer on the SPF to protect from further damage.

Beyond that, you can exfoliate and moisturize your skin, and make sure you give your skin all the necessary vitamins it needs to heal damage and produce collagen.

Also, be sure to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for your annual skin exam!

Don't forget to SHARE these warning signs with everyone you know who loves catching a few rays!