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Sunburn
Alternative Names
Sunburn, skin poisoningWhat is Sunburn
Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin as a result of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.Signs and symptoms
- Pinkness or redness
- Pain or tenderness
- Dehydration
- Swelling
- Small fluid-filled blisters which may break
- Headache, fever and fatigue if sunburn covers a large area
Possible complications
Infection: ruptured blisters make you more susceptible to bacterial infection.
Photoaging: sun exposure and repeated sunburns accelerate the aging process of skin, making you older than you really are. The results of photoaging include:
- Weakening of connective tissues which reduces the skin's strength and elasticity
- Thinner, more translucent-looking skin
- Deep wrinkles
- Dry, rough skin
- Fine red veins on your cheeks, nose and ears
- Freckles on your face and shoulders
- Large brown lesions (macules) on your face, back of hands, arms, chest and upper back
- White macules on the lower legs and arms
- Actinic keratoses
Skin cancer: sun exposure can damage the DNA of skin cells. This damage sometimes leads to skin cancer which develops mainly on areas of skin exposed most to sunlight (scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands)
Eye damage: UV light damages the retina, a thin layer of tissue that lines the back inner wall of your eye. Burning your eyes can also damage the lens (a clear structure inside your eye that changes shape to help focus objects) that can lead to progressive clouding of the lens (сataracts).
What causes
- UV radiation
- Artificial sources such as welding arcs, the lamps used in sunbeds and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
Prevention
- Avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Wear wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and UV protected sunglasses
- Use sunscreens and sun protection
- Avoid tanning beds entirely (users of indoor tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma)
Treatment
The best treatment for most sunburns is time. Most sunburns heal completely within a few weeks. Home treatments that help manage the discomfort or facilitate the healing process include using cool and wet cloths on the sunburned areas, taking frequent cold showers or baths and applying soothing lotions that contain aloe vera to the sunburn areas. Topical steroids (such as 1% hydrocortisone cream) may also help with sunburn pain and swelling. The peeling that comes after some sunburn is unstoppable. However, lotion may relieve the itching. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen) and Aspirin have all shown to reduce the pain of sunburns.
