Sunburn

General Information on Sunburn

Sunburn is the result of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The amount of sun exposure required to produce a burn varies from person to person. Sunburn is a painful reddening of the skin. With a severe sunburn, you may experience swelling and blistering, and reddening of the skin, along with other symptoms. The sunburn may several days and may then be followed by skin peeling on the burned area.

Symptoms of Sunburn

Symptoms may include:

Reddened skin
Swelling
Blisters
Itching
Peeling skin
Fever
Chills
Weakness
Fainting

Treatments For Sunburn

There are simple steps you can take to avoid a sunburn. One of the best and most obvious steps to prevent sunburn is to avoid strong sunlight. If you cannot avoid strong sunlight, clothing and sunscreen can help prevent sunburn. Sunscreen works best when applied 30 to 45 minutes before going out into the sun. Sunscreens are rated by their sun protection factor, or SPF. It is recommended that you use a sunscreen with a higher SPF number, as this will provide greater protection from the suns harmful rays. Sunburned skin heals on its own, but there are at home remedies you can use to make the healing process less painful. Cold water compresses and non-scented moisturizers can help to soothe raw, burned areas. An over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, can help to relieve pain and swelling. Most sunburn blisters will break on their own, if the blisters do not break on their own after a few days, call your doctor. After burned skin peels, the new layers are delicate and sensitive to sunlight so be sure to protect your skin for the next couple of weeks.

Personal Experience

Sunburn - personal experiences