Overview
- Sunburn is a burn of the skin
- Results from overexposure to the sun
- Normal exposure results in the production of Vitamin D
- Most of us become sun burnt at some time in life
- Sunburn causes a lot of discomfort
- It can cause premature ageing/cancer
- Common in children/young adults
Causes
- Sun's ultraviolet rays during outdoor activities
- Tanning beds
- Traveling to places at high altitude
Risk factors
- Light-skinned or fair-haired people
- Recent exposure to sun
- Prior skin injury
- Infections like Herpes, Porphyria
- Certain Medications like antibiotics, anti-psoriatic drugs
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Symptoms
The skin injury begins within 30 minutes of exposure to the sun
- Redness of the skin
- Irritation
- Blisters
- Pain
- Skin burning
- Skin loss
- Dehydration
- Flu-like symptoms
- Infection
- Fever
- If very severe, shock leading to death may occur
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Treatment
Self-Help
- Get out of the sun
- Cover the exposed area
- Take a cool bath
- Use a cool compress available commercially like, Burow solution
- Dissolve solution in one pint of water
- Soak a gauze or clean cloth in it
- Wring it well
- Apply to sun burnt area for 20 minutes
- Change the cloth and solution every 2 hours
- Apply aloe-based solution
- Avoid using oils, bath salts, perfumed lotions etc
- Avoid scrubbing/shaving
- Use a gentle towel
- Stay out of the sun while sun burnt
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Consult a Doctor
In case of-
- Pain
- Headache/confusion
- Blisters
- Nausea/vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Sunburn being present along with other medical condition
Prevention
- Wear hats, long-sleeved dress, long pants while out in the sun
- Try to avoid exposure to sun
- Use sun-block creams during exposure to sun
- Select a suitable SPF number for the sun block cream
- Sun Blocks should be reapplied every 2-3 hours
- Avoid tanning beds
