p53 protein levels are frequently elevated in basal (BCC) and squamous (SCC) cell carcinomas of UV-exposed sites. As recent findings in benign epidermal neoplasia (BEN) and normal epidermis (NE) are controversial, our aim was to look by immunohistochemistry for elevated p53 levels in NE (n = 52), reactive hyperplastic epidermis (REH, n = 8), BEN (n = 48), actinic keratosis (AK, n = 60), SCC (n = 13), and BCC (n = 42) of sun-exposed sites. 81.7% of AK, 100% of SCC, 73.8% of BCC as well as 29.2% of BEN, 37.5% of REH, and 26.9% of NE showed p53 positivity. The results further support that p53 elevated levels are an early marker of UV-mediated epidermal DNA damage.