Sunburn: Causes and Remidies

SUNBURN

      Sunburn is a burn to living tissue, such as skin, which is produced by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, commonly from the sun's rays. Usual mild symptoms in humans and other animals include 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. Exposure of the skin to lesser amounts of UV radiation will often produce a suntan.

     Sunburn results from too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure. Almost everyone has been sunburned or will become sunburned at some time. Anyone who visits a beach, goes fishing, works in the yard, or simply is out in the sun can get sunburned. Improper tanning bed use is also a source of sunburn. Although seldom fatal, severe sunburn or sun poisoning can be disabling and cause quite a bit of discomfort.

     One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Morever, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns at any age.

    UV radiation or rays are the main causes of sunburn. It may be from sun or from any artificial source.  It is a reaction of the body to the direct DNA damage, which can result from the excitation of DNA by UV-B light.  

The damage is recognized by the body, which then triggers several defense mechanisms, including DNA repair to revert the damage and increased melanin production to prevent future damage.

   It has been shown that protection against sunburn with chemical sunscreens does not imply protection against other damaging effects of UV radiation though it reduces the effect.

Symptoms

Typically there is initial redness, followed by varying  pain that may vary, proportional in severity to both the duration and intensity of exposure.

Also edema, itching, peeling skin, rash, nausea, fever, and syncope may be observed. Also, a small amount of heat is given off from the burn, caused by the concentration of blood in the healing process, giving a burning sensation in the affected area. 

One should immediately speak to a dermatologist if one develops a skin lesion that has an asymmetrical form, has darker edges than center, changes color, or becomes larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm).

The main Symptoms of Sunburn are:

• Mild and uncomplicated cases of sunburn usually result in minor skin redness, and pain.
• Initially, the skin turns red about 2-6 hours after exposure and feels irritated. The peak effects are noted at 12-24 hours.
• More severe cases (sun poisoning) are complicated by severe skin burning and blistering, massive fluid loss (dehydration),electrolyte imbalance, and possibly infection.
• Untreated sunburn and with enough exposure, a person can experience shock(poor circulation to vital organs) and even death.

Variations

Minor sunburns typically cause nothing more than slight redness and tenderness to the affected areas. In more serious cases, blistering can occur. Extreme sunburns can be painful to the point of debilitation and may require hospital care.

Duration

Sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes, and in seconds when exposed to non-shielded welding arcs or other sources of intense ultraviolet light. Nevertheless, the inflicted harm is often not immediately obvious.

After the exposure, skin may turn red in as little as 30 minutes but most often takes 2 to 6 hours. Pain is usually most extreme 6 to 48 hours after exposure. The burn continues to develop for 24 to 72 hours, occasionally followed by peeling skin in 3 to 8 days. Some peeling and itching may continue for several weeks.

Diagnosis

The doctor will obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination to determine if the patient has a sunburn, and to what extent. In more severe cases, or for people with preexisting medical problems, the doctor may order certain laboratory tests to aid in determining the severity of Injury. Serious Sunburn can even result death, so one must go for a diagnosis as soon as possible if he sees any symptoms in him.

Treatment

The best treatment for sunburn is time. It may take a few weeks for it heal completely. In serious cases, doctors advise is necessary. The pealing of skin is not stoppable. You can apply wet and cold cloth on burnt parts. Topical Steroids may be helpful for the serious burns. You should take a frequent shower as well. Aloe Vera pulp can be gently massaged over the burnt parts. It is a great herbal remedy. Lotions  containing Aloe Vera can also be applied.

Sunburn Prevention

Best thing to do is AVOID THE SUN which is practically not possibe. You can try the following methods at least.

1. Try avoiding the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2. When you go out in sun try wearing  wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, long pants and UV protected   sunglasses.

3. Sunscreens and sun protection

a. Use sunblock with suitable  sun protection factor (SPF) and check whether or not PABA is in the product. It is because some people's skin is sensitive to PABA. PABA should be avoided in children younger than 6 months because it can cause skin irritation. Because of the tendency to produce irritation, most sunscreens no longer contain this chemical.

b. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a "broad-spectrum" (UVA and UVB) waterproof sunscreen of at least SPF 30 be used year-round.

c. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 will require the industry to change labels to include protective potential against both UVA and UVB radiation. UVA radiation (previously not included in labeling) is responsible for a significant portion of sun damage. Manufacturers will no longer be permitted to claim that sunscreens are "waterproof" or "sweatproof" or identify their products as "sunblocks." Water resistant sunscreen claims must have information in regard to how much time a person can expect to have the declared SPF level of protection while sweating or swimming.

d. People seldom apply enough sunscreen or rarely reapply it. Sunscreen should be applied in generous amounts in layers and reapplied after being exposed. Normally sunscreen creams work for 2-3 hours. Then you should reapply.

e. Use lip balm with SPF 30. Sweating and swimming degrade the effectiveness of sunscreen.

Not all sunscreens are water resistant, and even those that are still need to be reapplied regularly.

4. Short and sequential exposure times can lead to skin pigment changes, which most of us call tanning. This can lead to increased sun tolerance but can also lead to long-term problems such as skin cancer. Getting a tan is often a primary reason people go out in the sun with maximum skin exposed in the first place.

5. Sunburn is most common in children and younger adults.