Beyond a smattering of freckles and the odd burn each summer, it’s easy to ignore the effects of the sun on our skin. But, putting the very real possibility of skin cancer aside, the sun’s rays can – and do – wreak all kinds of havoc, all year long, Marie Claire reports.

Off the back of research that found Australian women are ageing 20 years faster than anyone else in the world, thanks to – you guessed it – the harmful effects of our country’s high UV levels, we investigated the real effects of sun damage on your skin. This is what you need to know.