Sunburn
- Results from overexposure to the sun
- Normal exposure results in the production of Vitamin D
- Most of us become sun burnt at some time in life
- Sunburn causes a lot of discomfort
- It can cause premature ageing/cancer
- Common in children/young adults
Causes
- Sun's ultraviolet rays during outdoor activities
- Tanning beds
- Traveling to places at high altitude
Risk factors
- Light-skinned or fair-haired people
- Recent exposure to sun
- Prior skin injury
- Infections like Herpes, Porphyria.
- Certain Medications like antibiotics, anti-psoriatic drugs
Symptoms
The skin injury begins within 30 minutes of exposure to the sun
- Redness of the skin
- Irritation
- Blisters
- Pain
- Skin burning
- Skin loss
- Dehydration
- Flu-like symptoms
- Infection
- Fever
FIRST AID
- Get out of the sun
- Cover the exposed area with cotton clothes. Never expose the body.
- Take a cool bath
- Use a cool compress available commercially like, Burrow solution
- Dissolve solution in one pint of water
- Soak a gauze or clean cloth in it
- Wring it well
- Apply to sun burnt area for 20 minutes
- Change the cloth and solution every 2 hours
- Apply aloe-based solution
- Avoid using oils, bath salts, perfumed lotions etc
- Avoid scrubbing/shaving
- Use a gentle towel
- Stay out of the sun while sun burnt