How to Handle a Sunburn
We all know that familiar, painful burn from spending a little too long in the sun. Anytime you’re outside without the proper sun protection, there’s a risk you’ll head home with a sunburn. Sunburns are usually a temporary annoyance, but they can sometimes have long-term consequences for your skin. Prevention is the best tactic when it comes to sunburns, but there are also a few reliable tricks for relieving the sting if they occur.
How Sunburns Hurt your Skin
Sunburns occur when ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun damages your skin. The more severe the damage from UV radiation is, the longer your sunburn will last. A mild sunburn shows symptoms for around three days, a moderate sunburn for five days, and a severe sunburn can last a week or longer.
The symptoms of sunburns include redness, swelling, pain, blisters, and peeling. However, there can also be sunburn symptoms that don’t appear on your skin. These include fever, chills, weakness, confusion, and—in the case of more severe sunburns—dehydration and shock. If you feel any symptoms of shock, consult a medical professional immediately.
There can also be long-term effects from repeated sunburns. Exposing yourself to too much sun damage could cause premature wrinkling and increase your risk of skin cancer. Getting five or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing melanoma, one of the most serious forms of cancer.
Sunburn Treatments
There are several ways to treat the painful symptoms of sunburns once you have one, but burns only fade and heal with time.
Your skin will be red and hot to the touch, so the best course of action is to cool it down as quickly as possible. Take cool baths or showers often, and use an aloe vera or soy moisturizer to soothe your skin. You should also drink lots of water to avoid dehydration, take a pain reliever, and avoid more sun exposure. If your skin blisters, don’t try to pop the blisters. Blisters indicate a second-degree sunburn, which penetrates deeper into the skin, and the blisters form to help prevent infection.
Avoid the Next Burn!
The less sun exposure you have, the better! Wear hats and clothing that cover up and protect your skin while outside.
Always wear sunscreen! It’s recommended to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher throughout the year. You can learn more about picking an appropriate sunscreen from our past blog.
While everyone is at a risk for sunburn, certain factors can make a burn more likely. Take extra care if you have pale skin, freckles, moles, or a family history of skin cancer.
Sunburns aren’t necessarily more likely on a sunny day. Risk comes from exposure to UV rays. Sun rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and are present on both sunny and cloudy days. You should also be mindful of the UV index. A high UV index means that the sun is stronger, and your skin has a higher chance of being badly burned.
You can always contact New River Dermatology with any questions or concerns about sun exposure. Sunburns can be painful, but proper treatment and future precautions can help.