SUNBURN

Causes and Treatments

A sunburn is a form of radiation burn that affects living tissue, such as skin, that results from an overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun. Usually, normal symptoms in humans and other animals consist of red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch, general fatigue, and mild dizziness. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.

What Causes Sunburn

You already know the simple explanation behind sunburn. When your skin is exposed to the sun for a period of time, eventually it burns, turning red and irritated.  Skin damage is caused by both UVA and UVB rays. Sunburn is the most obvious sign that you've been sitting outside for too long. Skin type determines the ease of sunburn. People with fair or freckled skin, blond or red hair, and blue eyes have a higher sunburn incidence. Age also affects how skin reacts to sun. The skin of children younger than 6 and adults older than 60 is more sensitive to sunlight. Between 10am and 4pm daylight , the sun's rays are the strongest. Even on a cloudy day, the sun's damaging UV light can pass through clouds.

 

 

TREATMENT

 

Compresses;  Apply cold compresses to your skin or take a cool bath to soothe the burn.

Creams or gels; To take the sting out of your sunburn, gently rub on a cream or gel containing ingredients such as:

• Menthol
• Camphor
• Aloe Vera

Refrigerating the cream first will make it feel even better on your sunburned skin.

Avoid the sun;. Until your sunburn heals, stay out of the sun. Topical steroids (such as 1% hydrocortisone cream) may also help with sunburn pain and swelling.

 

 Sunscreen; Cover any exposed areas of skin liberally with at least 1 ounce of broad-spectrum sunscreen. That means sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

The sunscreen should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Follow these tips for applying sunscreen:

• Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes before you go outside.
• Use sunscreen even on overcast days because UV rays can penetrate clouds.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours -- or more often if you're sweating heavily or swimming.

Wear the right clothes; When you have to be outdoors, wear sun-protective clothing, such as:

• A broad-brimmed hat
• A long-sleeved shirt and pants
• UV-blocking sunglasses