Many people do not realize that rays of the sun can actually penetrate to certain skin levels inside the body. Thus, sun rays can alter the DNA of your skin cells and can cause damage. If the damage occurs in the basal layer, you can get a basal cell carcinoma. If the damage occurs in the squamous layer, you can get a squamous cell carcinoma. If the damage occurs to a melanocyte pigment cell, you can get a melanoma. and changes in skin color. If the damage occurs in the dermis to a fibroblast collagen making cell, you can damaged elastic tissue, loss of elasticity, and wirinkles.

As a picture is worth a thousand words, here are photos to help you better understand sun damaged skin.