Want to have your time in the sun without hurting for days after? Read on
We've all heard how too much sun can hurt us. And unless you really have spent your whole life under a rock, you've most likely had sunburn at least one time.
Sunburn is actually more than just a burn – it's inflammation, in other words, "swelling" or "irritation," that happens when your skin gets more sun or other ultraviolet, or high-intensity, light than it can handle. In fact, in the middle of the day, a person with very fair or light skin can burn in less than 15 minutes of sun.
A few things to know:
Of course, the best thing is to watch your time in the sun. If you're going to be in it for a while, cover your skin with either light clothing or a good sunscreen.
Dehydration (loss of body fluids) – Drink water to bring body fluids back to normal. Juice or sports drinks will also work but aren't as good as water.
Headache or mild fever – Take acetaminophen (Tylenol® or Panadol®), aspirin (WARNING: DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN TO CHILDREN), or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine like Advil®, Motrin®, Aleve® or Naprosyn® for headache, slight fever, or chills.
Blisters – Try an antibiotic cream like polymyxin B or bacitracin. Try to keep the blistered places clean and watch for signs of infection. Also, since blisters can mean a more serious burn, it's a good idea to check with your doctor.
Sunburn rarely means a trip to the doctor, and most people don't need to worry too much about wrinkles or skin cancer.
But if you're running a fever, there's a chance you could have heat stroke. This is a big danger to children who can also be dehydrated easily. In these cases, it's better to be safe than sorry, so see a doctor right away.
Other signs of too much sun that need fast medical care:
As for long-term worries like skin cancer, the most important things to watch are moles or places on your skin that change color and start to itch or bleed. If this happens, don't take chances. Call a dermatologist right away.
For sunburn, an ounce of protection is prevention – and prevention is really the only cure. A half-hour before going into the sun, put on a high-SPF (Sun-Protection Factor) sunscreen. At least 30 SPF is best. By applying sunscreen a half-hour ahead, you give it time to soak in. Don't forget your face, nose, ears, and shoulders.
Put more sunscreen on every two hours and after swimming. Wear a sun hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, lip balm with sunscreen, and the right clothes. You can even buy special sun-protective clothing now.
And trust us: when you're even just a little careful, you can still have plenty of fun in the sun – and you won't have to live with the burn afterward.
Material for this article was gathered from various sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (the National Institute of Health), and www.skincancer.org.
For specific references, visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003227.htm
* Links to various other Websites from this site are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply endorsement by Humana of these sites, any products or services described on these sites, or of any other material contained therein. Humana disclaims responsibility for their content and accuracy.
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