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What is a sunburn? — This is skin damage that can happen when a person is in the sun for too long. The sun gives off "ultraviolet," or "UV," light, which is what causes sunburn. It is possible to get a sunburn even on a cloudy day, because UV light can go through clouds.
Another way people can get a sunburn is from a tanning bed. Tanning beds use UV light to give people a tan.
Why should I avoid getting a sunburn? — It's important to try to avoid getting a sunburn, because people who get a lot of sunburns have a higher chance of getting certain other problems. These include:
●Skin cancer – There are different types of skin cancer. Most skin cancers can be treated easily. But sunburn increases the risk of getting a serious type of skin cancer called "melanoma."
●Wrinkles and other skin changes that usually happen when people get older
●Eye problems called "cataracts" that can cause trouble seeing
What can increase my chance of getting a sunburn? — You are more likely to get a sunburn if you:
●Have pale skin and light-colored hair
●Spend time in the sun without protective clothing or sunscreen
●Are around snow, water, or sand, which can reflect the sun
●Take certain medicines that can cause the skin to burn more easily
Babies and children have more sensitive skin, and are more likely to get a sunburn. For this reason, it's especially important to protect them from the sun.
What are the symptoms of a sunburn? — Symptoms happen 3 to 5 hours after being in the sun and include:
●Redness (picture 1 and picture 2) – The redness is worst 12 to 24 hours after being in the sun and usually fades over 3 days.
●Pain
●Skin that feels hot when touched
In some cases, sunburns can be severe. Severe sunburns can cause:
●Blisters
●Severe pain
●Swelling
●Fever
Can I treat a sunburn on my own? — To treat a mild sunburn on your own, you can:
●Take a pain-relieving medicine.
●Apply cool compresses or soaks.
●Take a cool shower or bath.
●Use a lotion or spray made for treating sunburns – These usually have aloe or a numbing medicine in them.
●Stay out of the sun until the redness and pain go away.
●Avoid picking at your skin, especially if it blisters or becomes flaky.
Your skin might feel very sensitive after a sunburn. If your clothes are irritating your skin, try wearing loose-fitting clothing.
Can sunburns be prevented? — Yes. To help prevent sunburn:
●Stay out of the sun in the middle of the day (from 10 AM to 4 PM). This is when the sun's light is strongest.
●Stay under a sun umbrella, tree, or other shady spot.
●Wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt, or long pants.
●Wear sunscreen – Put sunscreen on all parts of the body that are not covered by clothes. Reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours, or after you sweat or swim. It's important to choose a sunscreen that:
•Has an SPF of 30 or greater – SPF is a number that tells you how well a sunscreen protects the skin from UV light.
•Protects against 2 types of UV light, called "UVA" and "UVB." (Sunscreens that offer both UVA and UVB protection are called "broad spectrum.")
•Has not expired or is not more than 3 years old
●Wear lip balm that has an SPF of 30 or greater.
●Do not use tanning beds.
Remember that you can get a sunburn even if the weather is cloudy. You can also get it just from being outside during your normal activities, even if you are not sitting in the sun for a long time. This is why it's important to get into the habit of protecting yourself, especially if your skin burns easily. You can make this part of your regular routine, for example, by using a daily face lotion that contains sunscreen.
When should I call the doctor? — Call your doctor or nurse if you have:
●Extensive blistering
●Pain that does not go away with medicine
●Signs of infection – These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
●Very bad headache
●Pale, clammy, or cool skin
●Dizziness when you stand up
●Confusion
●Fast heartbeat
●Severe thirst
●Urinating less often than usual
●Eyes that hurt and are sensitive to light, or eyesight is blurred
Patient education: Skin burns (The Basics)
Patient education: Non-melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Moles (The Basics)
Patient education: Sunburn (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Sunburn prevention (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Skin burns (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma treatment; localized melanoma (Beyond the Basics)
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