Large DNA deletions in skin that never gets sunburned are linked to past sun exposure—likely because UV light breaks DNA strands, and the cell’s repair job often messes up, deleting big chunks.

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Pro

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Against

Evidence from Studies

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Contradicting (1)

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UV-exposure, endogenous DNA damage, and DNA replication errors shape the spectra of genome changes in human skin

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2021 Jan

The study found that even skin not exposed to sunlight has DNA deletions and mutations, so they can't be mostly caused by sun damage as the claim says. It suggests other natural body processes are to blame instead.

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Source Study

UV-exposure, endogenous DNA damage, and DNA replication errors shape the spectra of genome changes in human skin

Score: 34

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009302

Similar Assertions

Even skin that never gets direct sunlight still shows DNA damage from past sun exposure, and this damage doesn’t get worse as people get older—it just stays the same.

34

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75%

After you get sunburned, your skin temporarily stops making tan pigment because a protein called ATM redirects another protein (MITF) to fix DNA damage instead of making color.

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72%