A healthy looking tan is in fact just the opposite. It is skin that has been damaged. The skin produces melanin as a natural sunscreen to try and protect the skin cells against further damage. This damage shows up as “age spots”, freckles, discoloration or uneven skin color, wrinkles and skin cancer.

Photo-aging Group Age Group Characteristics
1 – Mild Typically ages 28-35 Minimal wrinkling or scarring
Mild or no keratoses
Minimal or no makeup
II – Moderate Ages 35-50 Early wrinkling; mild scarring
Sallow color with early actinic keratoses
Little makeup
Early to moderate photoaging
Early senile lentigines visible
Keratoses palpable but not visible
Parallel smile lines beginning to appear
III – Advanced Ages 50-65 Persistent wrinkling or moderate acne scarring
Discoloration with Telangiectasias and actinic keratoses
Always wears makeup
Yellow – gray skin color
Prior skin malignancies
IV – Severe Ages 60-75 Wrinkling; severe photo-aging, gravitational, and dynamic
Actinic keratoses with or without skin cancer
Wrinkles throughout, no normal skin
Severe acne scaring
Wears makeup but doesn’t cover imperfections well or
Makeup cannot be worn- it cakes and cracks