SUNBURN

Anyone who has ever been sunburned knows that the skin turns red, itches and can be painful. After a while, it starts to peel. That much is familiar, but what is sunburn from a medical point of view? Below you will find answers to this and other questions, including how to prevent sunburn and how it can affect babies and children.

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is a skin condition caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays can damage skin cells, causing redness, pain, swelling and sometimes blisters. Depending on the severity of the sunburn, symptoms may appear within a few hours or a few days after sun exposure.

There are three degrees of sunburn:

1. First degree. A mild burn that causes redness and some pain. It usually heals within a few days, and the skin may peel a little.
2. Second degree. A moderate burn that causes more pronounced redness, stronger pain and swelling. Blisters may appear. Healing may take a week or longer.
3. Third degree. A severe burn with deep tissue damage, large blisters and very painful skin. This degree of burn may require medical attention.

Symptoms. What can happen when you get sunburned?

Sunburn symptoms vary depending on the severity. Common symptoms include:

• Red, hot skin.
• Pain or tingling of varying intensity.
• Swelling.
• Dryness, peeling or flaking.
• Headache, weakness, fainting and loss of appetite due to dehydration.

In very severe cases, the following may occur:

• Blisters, small or large, filled with fluid.
• General weakness, nausea or vomiting.
• Severe skin inflammation and a risk of infection.

Severe sunburn can have long-term consequences, such as:

Scars

Severe sunburn can lead to scarring, especially if blisters develop.

Increased risk of skin cancer

Frequent and severe sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer, especially melanoma.

Skin ageing

UV radiation promotes wrinkles, pigmentation changes and loss of skin elasticity.

What helps with sunburn?

There are different ways to treat sunburn, depending on its severity. The affected area should be cooled, for example with cold compresses or a lotion containing anti-inflammatory ingredients. If the skin is badly burned, see a doctor for treatment.

What helps when the sunburn is mild?

Mild sunburn is best treated with a cooling, moisturising lotion or cream.

Sun protection is an important preventive measure

Sun protection is a very important preventive measure, not only to prevent sunburn but also to reduce long-term skin problems such as skin cancer, premature ageing and pigmentation.

Sunscreen

Use a sunscreen with a high protection factor (SPF 30 or higher). Apply it 15–30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or after swimming.

Clothing

Wear clothing that fully covers your arms and legs, made from natural fibres such as cotton or linen, which can help protect your skin from the sun's rays.

Hats

Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a cap or wide-brimmed hat that shields your face, neck and ears.

Sunglasses

Wear sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection to protect your eyes and the skin around them.

Shade

Try to stay in the shade, especially when the sun is strongest (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).

Summary

Mild sunburn is nothing to worry about, and the skin usually heals without problems. Serious burns, however, need medical attention. It is generally advisable to avoid frequent sunbathing and to use sunscreen. Babies and children in particular must be well protected from the sun. Sunburn can also affect the eyes and damage the cornea. Be careful!

Our recommendation. Protect your skin from the sun every day – for the face and other exposed areas, choose Eubos Haut Ruhe Protective Cream SPF 30+.

Prepared from online sources.