The pains of sunburn: Sunburn is very common in a country like India, that has summers for a good 6 months. About 10 million cases of sunburns are reported per year in India. Living tissues (skin) when overexposed to ultraviolet rays result in burns known as sunburns. It is a result of a mutation in direct DNA because of UV radiation. It is the most common sign of sun damage under preventive healthcare.
What causes sunburns?
Sunburn is mainly caused due to ultraviolet rays (both UVA and UVB). On the skin surface, it may look like any normal inflammation but these UV radiations go deep into the skin and sometimes may even cause permanent damage to the skin. Artificial sources like tanning lamps are also responsible for sunburn. Ozone depletion due to the greenhouse effect, increased pollution and global warming have increased the chances of sunburn.
How long does a sunburn last?
Under preventive healthcare, it states that the healing time largely depends on the degree of the sunburn. Mild sunburn lasts for about three to 5 days. A higher degree of burn may take a week or 10 days to heal. But with every such instance of a burn, the skin becomes more and more damaged leading to malignant melanoma and skin cancer.
Treatment
Sunburns are easily diagnosed with the help of the patient’s prior medical history and physical examination. The treatment for the inner damage of a cell by the sun is not treatable. But under preventive healthcare, there are effective techniques to cool down the skin and reduce the inflammation. Best cooling agents for sunburnt skin are cool aloe vera gel, smashed cucumber or cucumber juice, even a cold compress is of great help. There are even specially medicated creams that your doctor or dermatologist might prescribe to reduce the inflammation as well as soothe the skin. But in case of severe burns, you might get yourself admitted at a hospital. Treating a sunburn does not help with the already damaged skin cells but it only helps to treat the surface; that is, the outer skin problems like inflammation or discoloration of the skin.
Prevention
The best way to prevent a sunburn is to not to go out during the prime hours of harmful rays; that are basically known to exist from noon to past 3 o’clock. And if you go out, make sure to apply a sunscreen or sunblock with high SPF to protect your skin. You may also wear loose clothes and hats. Make sure you are hydrated and carry a bottle of cool water. Sunglasses made especially to protect us from UV rays are also necessary. When you go out, use an umbrella to prevent the sun from directly touching any exposed area of your skin. Try to cover most of your skin to prevent any type of sun damage. It’s better to wear clothes that are specifically made to prevent the penetration of harmful radiations.
Sunburns are more than just your skin stinging and turning red. It should be immediately treated for diagnosis and better yet, it must be prevented.
We truly hope you found this article helpful. To know more, you can always visit our website www.aanyawellness.com or book a preventive healthcare consultation session to get personalized and preventive healthcare solutions to your problems.
Why do sunburn hurt worse at nights?
You feel discomfort from your sunburn at night because your skin has to undergo constant contact with the bedsheets and your other beddings.
Do sunburns turn into a tan?
There’s no guarantee that your sunburn will turn into a tan, especially if you’re fair skinned.
Does milk help with sunburn?
It may sound odd, but yes soaking a sunburn in milk can actually help it heal.
Does Vaseline make sunburn worse?
Yes, do not apply petroleum jelly or butter to the sunburn area. They can make the symptoms worse and can prevent it from healing.
Should I cover the sunburn area or let it breathe?
The best way to heal a sunburn is to let your skin breathe.