Caring for Sunburnt Skin
Skin is sunburnt when it becomes red, warm, and painful after exposure to the ultraviolet light in sun or tanning booths. Moderate cases can lead to temporary disability, and severe cases can lead to swelling, blistering, fever, and dehydration.
The amount of sun required to burn a person depends on that person’s skin type. Someone who is light-skinned might get a sunburn in less than 15 minutes of exposure to mid-day sun.
Understanding ultraviolet radiation exposure
The burn is not due to the heat of the sun. It is due to the ultraviolet radiation bombarding the cells in the deeper layers of the skin. Since we cannot feel the radiation, the symptoms appear only after the cells have already been damaged and become inflamed.
The UV rays is categorized into three types:
- UVC rays (wavelengths = 200 nm to 290 nm) are the shortest and most powerful of the UV rays. UVC is the most likely to cause cancer if it reaches skin. Fortunately, most of it is absorbed by the ozone layer in our atmosphere. However, there is concern that a thinning of the ozone layer may be causing more UVC to reach the earth's surface.
- UVB rays (wavelengths = 290 nm to 320 nm) are less damaging than UVC, but more of it penetrates to the earth's surface. It is the most common cause of sunburn and skin cancer. UVB is particularly strong at the equator, at high elevations, and during the summer.
- UVA rays (wavelengths = 320 nm to 400 nm) are the least powerful of the UV rays, but they are present all year and can penetrate windows and clouds.
In general, UV rays are the greatest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It is best to avoid the outdoors during these hours without protection, particularly during summer, in tropical regions, or at altitude. During this time, you should pay close attention to the appropriate use of sunscreen, clothing, sunglasses, and shade.
You can obtain an accurate measure of the amount of UV rays in your area by looking up the Ultraviolet (UV) Index. The UV Index is like a weather forecast. It provides a report on the amount of damaging UV rays that are expected to affect a region on a particular day. The UV Index changes day to day according to time of year, cloud cover, atmospheric ozone, and other factors.
The following table is a breakdown of the UV Index. A high UV Index number means that you are at greater risk of being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. You should take special care to avoid outdoor exposure to sunlight when the UV Index is moderate or greater.
- 0 to 2 = Minimal
- 3 to 4 = Low
- 5 to 6 = Moderate
- 7 to 9 = High
- 10 or more = Very high
It takes time for inflammation from sunburn to occur, so a sunburn may not be apparent until after you have gotten out of the sun.
Sunburn has long-term risks. Blistering sunburns, particularly in children, increase the risk of melanoma skin cancer years later. And ongoing sun exposure, even without burning, leads to premature aging of the skin and other forms of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell).
What to do if you get sunburn?
The pain of sunburn worsens over time, reaching a peak 12 to 48 hours later. Damaged skin later peels off, usually two to seven days later.
Once the skin has burned, there is little that can be done other than providing comfort while the body heals itself. Therefore, prevention is the most important step to take. Use sunscreen and follow recommendations for sun avoidance – hat, sun glasses, sun screen and protective clothing.
If you do get a sunburn, these measures will provide some comfort:
- Cool shower or bath, or placing cold, wet washcloths over the burn.
- Over the counter medications, like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). (Aspirin should not be given to children with a fever, or those who are allergic).
- Avoid using products containing benzocaine or lidocaine, which can further damage the skin, or petroleum (Vaseline), which can block pores.
- Call your doctor if you have a fever, or blisters, or develop dizziness with the sunburn. Your doctor may recommend the use of dry bandages on the blisters, or other measures.
Invigor8 provides the following advice on skin concerns for general information purposes only. In following the information provided in these pages, audiences accept that this does not replace in-clinic consultation, analysis and recommendation.
Contact us to book your appointment or if you have further queries. We guarantee you will be delighted with the results
- phone (08) 9443 3442 at Yokine
- SMS 0432 782 424
- Facebook on www.facebook.com/Invigor8
- email to info@invigor8skin.com.au
We look forward to seeing you regularly.
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