MODEL RELEASED. Applying suntan lotion. An 18-year-old man applies suntan lotion to his skin to protect it from sunburn. Exposure to the sun has caused freckles on his neck to darken and the skin to tan, while skin which has been covered has remained very pale and vulnerable to burning. Sunburn is common in fair-skinned people, whose skin lacks the protective pigment melanin. Repeated exposure can age the skin prematurely and increases the risk of skin cancer.