There are some people who want to lie out in the sun in the hope of getting a golden tan. However, instead of achieving a tan, they end up getting a sunburn. Sunburn is actually the result of being overexposed to ultraviolet radiation. This causes an inflammation of the skin, thus resulting in a sudden change in the color of the skin. Sunburn can be extremely uncomfortable and irritating. Having the knowledge to avoid it is a very good thing. Knowing treatments for sunburn can also be very beneficial in making the condition vanish. If you want to know more about how to treat sunburn, feel free to give this article a read!
Sunburn: What Is It?
Sunburn is actually the sudden inflammation or reddening of the skin due to the excessive exposure to sun and ultraviolet radiation. We know that the sun has ultraviolet or UV rays. Furthermore, it also has visible light and infrared rays as well. The UV rays have three types: UVA –ultra violet A, UVB –ultra violet B, and UVC –ultraviolet C. The first and the second types (UVA and UVB) are actually known to cause severe damage to the skin. UVC on the other hand is absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen, and ozone. UVC does not enter the atmosphere of our planet and is therefore not harmful to skin.
When the skin has become overly exposed to ultraviolet rays, the skin tissues suddenly become burned or red. The UVA rays actually attack the underlying layers of the skin. On the other hand, the UVB rays attack the outer layers of the skin. Both UVA and UVB rays cause inflammation of the skin.
Almost everyone who goes to the beach, goes fishing, or who works outside is prone to this condition. In fact, people all over the world experience sunburn. Once the skin has been exposed to UV rays, there is an increase in the production of melanin in an attempt t protect the skin from damage. A sudden increase in melanin may result in the darkening and discoloration of the skin over the next two days. This is considered a tan.
Causes of Sunburn
As the name implies, sunburn is caused by none other than the sun itself. Furthermore, and as stated earlier, when the skin gets excessive exposure to the UV rays of the sun, it will eventually burn, become red and cause irritation.
Symptoms of Sunburn
The signs and symptoms of sunburn may actually vary from person to person. You may not observe redness of the skin for several hours after exposure to UV rays. The peak redness of the skin will take about 12 to 24 hours. Minor sunburns usually cause nothing more than slight redness and tenderness of the skin. However, in some serious cases, blistering may occur.
In severe cases of sunburn, the symptoms may be:
- Weakness
- Vomiting and nausea
- Chills
- Fever
In more extreme cases, the symptoms may include:
- Extreme weakness
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
Treatments for Sunburn
It is essential to start the treatment for sunburn as soon as possible. Sunburn may lead to permanent skin damage and may also increase the risk of skin cancer. Below are some of the simplest and most effective treatments for sunburn that may help in easing the symptoms. However, it is important to keep in mind that the best way to prevent sunburn is to avoid long exposure to the harmful UV rays.
- Stay out of the sun: avoid making the burn worse by exposing your skin to more ultraviolet radiation.
- Apply moisturizer: use moisturizer when treating the sunburn. This is beneficial in relieving the pain that it causes.
- Avoid butter: some say that applying butter to sunburn is beneficial. However, this is not true. This false remedy may make the condition much worse. It prevents the healing of the burn and may also damage the skin as well.
- Cool the skin: applying a damp cloth or towel is beneficial in relieving the inflammation of the skin and making it cool.
- Avoid peeling the skin: avoid picking the skin and apply moisturizer to it to relieve the symptoms.
- Do not break the small blisters: allow the blisters to run their own course. If one breaks, just clean it with water and mild soap.
- Rehydrate: drink ample amount of water to rehydrate the skin. This is beneficial in getting rid of both the redness and the pain.
