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Sunburn
Understanding the Risks, Healing, and Prevention
With the arrival of warm, sunny days, we strive to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Despite numerous articles written about the importance of sunscreens, many still don't realize the danger of uncontrolled sunbathing. A sunburn isn't always seriously dangerous, but it often requires special care to accelerate skin healing.
What is a Sunburn?
A sunburn is an inflammatory response to ultraviolet damage to the outer layers of the epidermis, expressed as redness. With prolonged sun exposure, melanin is actively produced and darkens unprotected skin areas. Sunburn occurs because melanin cannot always cope with its job of protecting the skin from UV radiation, especially if the insolation is very intense.
A sunburn is an inflammatory response to ultraviolet damage to the outer layers of the epidermis, expressed as redness. With prolonged sun exposure, melanin is actively produced and darkens unprotected skin areas. Sunburn occurs because melanin cannot always cope with its job of protecting the skin from UV radiation, especially if the insolation is very intense.
The amount of melanin is a genetic factor:
If a person has very fair and sensitive skin (little melanin), redness and burns can occur after just 20-25 minutes in the sun during peak hours.
If a person has very fair and sensitive skin (little melanin), redness and burns can occur after just 20-25 minutes in the sun during peak hours.
People with more melanin acquire a chocolate skin tone (tan), but prolonged exposure to the sun without protection can also lead to a burn.
Signs of Sunburn
Recognizing a sunburn is generally not difficult. The skin reddens, slight swelling appears, along with sensitivity and pain. There are also other signs of sunburn that require emergency help:
Signs of Sunburn
Recognizing a sunburn is generally not difficult. The skin reddens, slight swelling appears, along with sensitivity and pain. There are also other signs of sunburn that require emergency help:
- Appearance of blisters, sores, and ulcers.
- Localized skin swelling.
- Cracking and severe peeling of the skin.
- Shedding of the top layer of skin.
- Localized increase in skin temperature.
- Chills and fever.
- Dehydration.
Protect your skin from the sun's harsh rays by understanding the risks, practicing safe sun habits, and knowing how to properly care for a sunburn to prevent long-term damage.
Why Are Sunburns Dangerous?
Each new burn disrupts the structure of melanocytes (cells that protect the skin from solar radiation). One "breakdown" can lead to further genetic mutation of cells, gradually developing into a tumor (melanoma).
Slight skin redness after sun exposure is a normal and harmless phenomenon. However, any sunburn leads to a decrease in immunity, both general and local.
Among the most common negative consequences of sunburn are:
Each new burn disrupts the structure of melanocytes (cells that protect the skin from solar radiation). One "breakdown" can lead to further genetic mutation of cells, gradually developing into a tumor (melanoma).
Slight skin redness after sun exposure is a normal and harmless phenomenon. However, any sunburn leads to a decrease in immunity, both general and local.
Among the most common negative consequences of sunburn are:
- Prolonged skin recovery. If the damage is minor, skin recovery after a sunburn will take 3-5 days. If you notice blisters, this indicates deep epidermal damage. In this case, recovery will be lengthy and can take several weeks.
- Appearance of moles. Approximately 7-10 days after intense sun exposure, moles may form in the burned area. They are usually not dangerous, but in some cases, they can be precursors to melanoma.
- Allergic reactions. Sunburn can cause serious complications in the form of allergies, expressed as hives, severe swelling, and breathing problems.
- Skin pigmentation. Pigment spots occur due to excessive sun exposure. Pigmentation is not a dangerous phenomenon, but this cosmetic defect can cause certain inconveniences, especially on exposed areas of the body.
- Infection. Damage to the epidermis by ultraviolet light is fraught with the entry of pathogenic microorganisms, leading to tissue infection.
How to Provide First Aid for Sunburn
It's one thing when the skin is slightly darkened, and another when it acquires an intense red hue and becomes sensitive. In the latter case, it's worth providing first aid.
At the first signs of sunburn, you need to seek shade or go to a cool place. If small areas of skin are damaged, apply gauze pads soaked in cool water to them. Change them as they warm up, but preferably every 15-20 minutes. If the affected skin area is quite large, take a cool shower or wrap yourself in wet sheets. Within 10-15 minutes, your body temperature will normalize, and you'll feel better.
Apply a healing agent to the skin. It's important that it contains D-panthenol, allantoin, chamomile, and licorice extracts. D-panthenol has restorative, soothing, and regenerating effects, accelerates skin recovery, softens, and moisturizes it. Allantoin soothes the skin, reduces redness and irritation, and helps restore sun-damaged areas. Licorice and chamomile extracts soothe the skin, saturating it with moisture and vitamins.
Be sure to drink as much liquid as possible, as burned skin loses water much faster than healthy skin. If you don't replenish your water balance, you can provoke dehydration. Keep in mind that sodas, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages worsen dehydration.
If you feel pain in the sunburned area, you can take a pain reliever. It will alleviate your condition and reduce inflammation.
Don't forget about moisturizing. After intense UV exposure, skin often begins to peel and shed. This happens due to lack of moisture. Under no circumstances should you "help" the skin peel. Instead, use moisturizing agents that replenish moisture and reduce the intensity of peeling.
Sunburn Prevention
It's always better to prevent a problem than to deal with it, so it's important to follow safe tanning rules.
What Not to Do with Sunburns
Contrary to popular belief, you should not apply petroleum jelly, oil, sour cream, kefir, or other fatty and dairy products to sun-damaged skin. Fat forms a film that prevents moisture from evaporating, increases local skin temperature, and slows down wound healing. Moreover, these products are a favorable environment for the reproduction of microorganisms and provoke the risk of infection.
It's one thing when the skin is slightly darkened, and another when it acquires an intense red hue and becomes sensitive. In the latter case, it's worth providing first aid.
At the first signs of sunburn, you need to seek shade or go to a cool place. If small areas of skin are damaged, apply gauze pads soaked in cool water to them. Change them as they warm up, but preferably every 15-20 minutes. If the affected skin area is quite large, take a cool shower or wrap yourself in wet sheets. Within 10-15 minutes, your body temperature will normalize, and you'll feel better.
Apply a healing agent to the skin. It's important that it contains D-panthenol, allantoin, chamomile, and licorice extracts. D-panthenol has restorative, soothing, and regenerating effects, accelerates skin recovery, softens, and moisturizes it. Allantoin soothes the skin, reduces redness and irritation, and helps restore sun-damaged areas. Licorice and chamomile extracts soothe the skin, saturating it with moisture and vitamins.
Be sure to drink as much liquid as possible, as burned skin loses water much faster than healthy skin. If you don't replenish your water balance, you can provoke dehydration. Keep in mind that sodas, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages worsen dehydration.
If you feel pain in the sunburned area, you can take a pain reliever. It will alleviate your condition and reduce inflammation.
Don't forget about moisturizing. After intense UV exposure, skin often begins to peel and shed. This happens due to lack of moisture. Under no circumstances should you "help" the skin peel. Instead, use moisturizing agents that replenish moisture and reduce the intensity of peeling.
Sunburn Prevention
It's always better to prevent a problem than to deal with it, so it's important to follow safe tanning rules.
- The optimal time for sun exposure is before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM. During these times, the sun is less intense.
- Choose clothing made of light but dense fabric, with long sleeves if possible.
- Use sunscreen on exposed skin areas, preferably with SPF 30 or higher. It's important that the sunscreen protects the skin from both A and B spectrum rays. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after water activities.
- Wear hats and sunglasses.
- Try to spend more time in the shade—this will protect you from active sun rays.
What Not to Do with Sunburns
Contrary to popular belief, you should not apply petroleum jelly, oil, sour cream, kefir, or other fatty and dairy products to sun-damaged skin. Fat forms a film that prevents moisture from evaporating, increases local skin temperature, and slows down wound healing. Moreover, these products are a favorable environment for the reproduction of microorganisms and provoke the risk of infection.
