Dorothy FarrarSunburn
Sunburn , also known as solar dermatitis or UV erythema, is a skin inflammation caused by UV radiation. These are first or second degree burns that are caused either by natural sun exposure or by artificial UV light.
What is sunburn?
Strong solar radiation can cause cell damage and the associated inflammation of the skin . This inflammation is called sunburn.
Typical symptoms of sunburn are reddened skin, itching, in worse cases blistering and later skin peeling.
Moisturizing and vitamin-donating creams or ointments, which usually contain the anti-inflammatory active ingredient hydrocortisone, provide quick relief from acute sunburn. While slight forms of sunburn can certainly be treated yourself, a doctor should be consulted for more severe burns of large areas of skin.
Since sunburn can cause health risks for both children and adults, adequate protection against dangerous UV rays is essential. After all, frequent sunburns can have serious health consequences.
causes
Sunburn is caused by prolonged and intense exposure to the sun on the skin. The ultraviolet components in the sun’s rays are the trigger for sunburn.
The skin itself has various protective mechanisms that protect against skin damage caused by solar radiation. However, skin pigmentation and protective mechanisms are often not sufficient to block UV rays.
Sunburn occurs when UV rays penetrate the skin and damage the cell tissue there. This damage causes local inflammation. As a result, the skin vessels are dilated, which is the reason for the red discoloration of the skin.
Blood circulation is also increased, which makes the skin feel very warm. The development and intensity of a sunburn depends strongly on the skin type. Fair-skinned people and people with sensitive skin therefore get sunburned more quickly than darker skin types.
Children in particular are at risk of sunburn. Children’s skin is much more sensitive than that of adults. In addition, children have far less experience of the sun, so signs of sunburn often go unnoticed by children.
When to the doctor?
Unfortunately, many sufferers take sunburn lightly. However, sunburn is a very dangerous matter that does not only affect the skin. Sunburn sufferers may well complain of nausea and severe circulatory problems . If these symptoms occur in connection with a sunburn, then a doctor should be consulted immediately.
However, serious complications can also occur after sunburn. Since the first layer of skin is burned, it should be treated with moisturizing creams. If there is only a slight sunburn, it is not absolutely necessary to see a doctor. In such a case, it is completely sufficient if the sun is avoided for the time being. This allows the skin to heal and regenerate in peace.
However, if the severity of the sunburn is more severe, the person concerned should definitely seek medical treatment. As soon as blistering can be seen on the affected areas, medical advice should be sought. In particularly bad cases, edema can even form, which urgently requires appropriate treatment. The following therefore applies: In the event of extreme damage to the skin, a dermatologist should be consulted in any case. Appropriate ointments and creams can effectively prevent permanent damage.
symptoms
diagnosis and course
From a medical point of view, sunburn is a mild to moderate burn caused by staying in the sun for too long or with insufficient protection. Their UV-B rays damage the skin down to the deeper layers, which can affect every part of the body. The burned areas turn red a few hours after sunbathing. They feel significantly warmer than healthy areas of the skin’s surface and can occasionally be itchy.
In particularly severe cases of sunburn, blisters or even edema can also form on the burned areas. Side effects such as fever, headache or nausea can also occur. The symptoms are worst about twelve hours after sunbathing. Since the risk of skin cancer increases significantly if sunburn occurs too frequently, preventive protective measures should be taken before sunbathing. In addition to using sunscreen with an appropriate sun protection factor, this includes staying in the shade regularly or wearing clothing that is as long as possible. After sunbathing, an après-sun lotion optimally cares for the skin.
The symptoms of sunburn go away after a week at the latest, but at least two days. Sunburn usually heals with flakes, which is popularly known as “peeling” the skin. Of course, if you already have sunburn, you should avoid spending time in the sun, which is usually painful anyway, so as not to further strain the skin.
complications
Sunburn is always an unhealthy condition for the human body. In the worst case, it can lead to severe burns and the development of cancer. Sunburn is usually associated with pain on the skin. The patient can no longer sleep properly and wearing clothes also leads to burning pain. Even gentle touches on the skin are often relatively painful, so that the quality of life and mobility of the patient decreases significantly in this short time. Sunburn often removes the outer layers of skin.
In addition to the pain itself, the skin is red and, in some cases, itchy. The affected person should avoid scratching the skin in any case, so that wounds and scars do not develop. Fever and chills may also occur. In most cases, the sunburn disappears after a few days and does not lead to further compilations. Skin diseases mainly occur when sunburn occurs frequently on the skin and the skin is not adequately protected. The treatment uses moisturizing creams and skin care products. There are no other complaints here either.
treatment and therapy
When sunburn does occur, it is important to treat it to provide quick relief. Finally, sunburn can be very painful and itchy. The treatment method depends on the severity of the skin burn. A severe sunburn should therefore be treated by a doctor.
First and foremost, the sun should be avoided until the sunburn has disappeared. Sunburn usually heals after 1-2 weeks. Sunburn symptoms can be relieved by applying cooling compresses to the affected area. Moisturizing lotions and gels can also be applied. These not only provide moisture, but also have a cooling function. Especially if you keep such lotions in the fridge, the subsequent cooling on the skin is very pleasant. Cooling quark wraps have also proven themselves as home remedies for generations.
↳ Further information: Home remedies for sunburn
Pain that occurs during a sunburn can be effectively treated with painkillers based on acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol. These not only have a pain-relieving effect, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect. It is also recommended to drink plenty of fluids to speed up the healing process.
prevention
To prevent sunburn, excessive exposure to the sun should be avoided. The radiation is particularly intense in the afternoon and afternoon. During this time, the sun should be avoided as much as possible.If you are in the sun, you should protect your skin with sunscreen. These are available with different sun protection factors. The higher the sun protection factor of the sun cream, the higher the protection against solar radiation or sun protection .
The level of sun protection factor required to protect against sunburn depends on the individual skin type. Accordingly, light-skinned people need a higher protection factor than people with dark skin. Adequate protection against sunburn is very important, since every sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
sun protection
The possibilities of sun protection are more far-reaching than sunscreen and sunglasses. There are applications for the skin, for example, not only as a cream, but also as a milk or gel. All forms have various advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when buying.
There are also colored products especially for children, so that the parents can see where the layer is not sufficient until it is absorbed.
In addition to the synthetically manufactured creams and applications, there are also natural sun protection products made from natural cosmetics that do not use chemical components in their manufacture. Thanks to such products, you can be sure that you don’t have to harm your skin with unnecessary ingredients, even though you only wanted to protect it.
How do I use sunscreen correctly?
Most people know sunscreen as either sunscreen or sunglasses. The sunscreen is applied to all parts of the skin that will be directly exposed to the sun. The sun protection factor (SPF) is particularly important when buying sunscreen. This indicates the light levels against which the product can protect.
In addition, there is also waterproof sunscreen that you should wear if you want to go in the water. When going into the water, you should make sure to rub sunscreen on your arms, legs and face, as only the torso is protected by the swimsuit. Sunscreen and other protective cosmetics initially protect against sunburn and in the long term also against skin cancer. His risk is greatly increased by a previous sunburn.
The eyes also need protection
However, sun protection is also important for the eyes, as they can also be damaged by excessive exposure to the sun. The cornea can develop an inflammatory, extremely painful condition that is similar to sunburned skin. It, too, can have harmful long-term consequences, which in the worst case can lead to complete blindness.
Sunglasses, on the other hand, prevent sunlight from falling directly on the eyes and causing long-term damage. Although these are not as common as the consequences of sunburn, they still occur. Therefore, the sensitive eyes should always be protected if you want to expose yourself to the sun. Many people also develop headaches from direct sunlight, which sunglasses also provide effective protection against.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.