Ailments and Situations - Sunburn - Causes

Causes:

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet sunlight causes a sunburn. This can be influenced by previous exposure, prolonged outdoor activity, little or no clothing covering, and a fair complexion.

Melanin is a natural protective pigment that gives skin its colour. It is able to absorb some UV rays and prevent them from penetrating deeper into the skin. Dark-skinned people have more melanin and thus more resistance (but not immunity) to the sun's rays. Albinos have no melanin and cannot tan at all. They will burn severely upon even brief exposure to the sun. Unless precautions are taken, albinos develop skin cancer at an early age. If you have vitiligo, patches of your skin do not produce melanin and become severely burned.