You might have noticed that there has been a lot of focus in the media on ways to protect yourself from getting sunburned, including limiting your time in the sun and applying sunscreen. This is for a very good reason, as skin cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, yet it is also one of the forms that can be avoided with the least amount of risk. Here we talk about the dangers of sunburn and when to call our home doctor for sunburn in Sotogrande.
How bad is your burn?
When you expose yourself to the ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun, you run the risk of getting a painful sunburn. Melanin, also known as a tan, is produced by the body naturally as a defence mechanism against the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays on the skin cells. Your genes determine how much melanin you are able to produce, and for some people, that amount is not sufficient to keep their skin healthy and protected. The skin can become burned when exposed to an excessive amount of UV light. After being out in the sun for about four hours, you should start to notice that your skin is starting to become irritated and red. Even though it's painful, a sunburn is actually a sign that your body is working to repair the damage done to your skin. The duration of a sunburn is proportional to the severity of the burn:
- Mild sunburns usually cause redness and pain and can last three to five days.
- Moderate sunburns can cause skin to become red, swollen, and hot to the touch. This type of burn can take up to a week to completely heal.
- Severe sunburns can cause painful blistering or extremely red skin, and recovery can take up to two weeks.
Power of UV rays
You might be wondering, "What kind of damage can a sunburn do?" Answer: A great deal. Even a single sunburn can increase the likelihood that a person will develop skin cancer. It is not the burn itself that increases your risk of skin cancer; rather, it is the length of time spent in the sun that is associated with that burn.
Peeling of the skin that has been sunburned is a common occurrence after getting a sunburn. This is the process by which your body eliminates cells that have a predisposition to develop into cancerous tumours. When the deeper layers of the skin absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, the genetic material of the skin cells may become damaged. This is the root cause of the increased likelihood of developing skin cancer.
Everyone is susceptible to sun damage, but your risk is higher if:
- You have freckles/fair skin
- You are exposed to sunlight reflected from snow or water
- You live near the equator or in high altitudes
- Medications make your skin more burnable.
Protect your skin
There are ways to protect your skin outside. Follow these tips to reduce skin damage and cancer risk:
- Put on clothing that will cover as much of your skin as possible.
- Make sure that the sunglasses you choose offer protection against both types of UV rays.
- Put on a hat with a large brim to shield your head, face, and ears from the sun.
- Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when it is at its peak intensity.
- Choose a sunscreen that protects you from both the visible and the invisible forms of ultraviolet light.
- Use a sunblock with at least 30 sun protection factor (SPF) rating.
- Bring your sunscreen with you so that you can reapply it if you plan on being outside for more than two hours at a time.
- Most importantly, don't be fooled by a cloudy day. Because clouds block only about 20 percent of the sun's UV rays, it is still easy to get sunburned.
Home doctor for sunburn in Sotogrande
Take preventative measures if you discover a sunburn unexpectedly. As soon as you notice any signs of a burn, you should get out of the sun and drink some water. Because your skin has lost so much moisture, it is essential that you keep it hydrated. Moisturisers provide relief for many people, and skin creams containing vitamins C and E may help limit the amount of damage done to the skin. If your sunburn is particularly painful, you might want to try taking some over the counter medication or applying a cool compress to the affected area. When you go outside again, make sure to protect yourself from the sun by wearing clothing that covers your skin, and give your sunburn some time to heal by staying out of the sun for a few days.
If you get a fever, chills, or an upset stomach as a result of your sunburn, call our home doctor for sunburn in Sotogrande immediately. These symptoms may point to a more serious condition, such as sun poisoning or severe dehydration.