Sunburn
sunburn /sun·burn/ (sun´bern) injury to the skin, with erythema, tenderness, and sometimes blistering, after excessive exposure to sunlight, produced by unfiltered ultraviolet rays.
sunburn,
sunburn,
Patient discussion about Sun exposure.
Definition
Inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to the sun.
Description
Sunburn is caused by exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. There are two types of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and can cause melanoma in susceptible people. UVB rays, which don't penetrate as deeply, cause sunburn and wrinkling. Most UVB rays are absorbed by sunscreens, but only about half the UVA rays are absorbed.
Skin cancer from sun overexposure is a serious health problem in the United States, affecting almost a million Americans each year. One out of 87 will develop malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and 7,300 of them will die each year.
Fair-skinned people are most susceptible to sunburn, because their skin produces only small amounts of the protective pigment called melanin. People trying to get a tan too quickly in strong sunlight are also more vulnerable to sunburn. While they have a lower risk, even the darkest-skinned people can get skin cancer.
Repeated sun overexposure and burning can prematurely age the skin, causing yellowish, wrinkled skin. Overexposure can increase the risk of skin cancer, especially a serious burn in childhood.
Causes and symptoms
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight destroy cells in the outer layer of the skin, damaging tiny blood vessels underneath. When the skin is burned, the blood vessels dilate and leak fluid. Cells stop making protein. Their DNA is damaged by the ultraviolet rays. Repeated DNA damage can lead to cancer.
When the sun burns the skin, it triggers immune defenses which identify the burned skin as foreign. At the same time, the sun transforms a substance on the skin which interferes with this immune response. While this substance keeps the immune system from attacking a person's own skin, it also means that any malignant cells in the skin will be able to grow freely.
Sunburn causes skin to turn red and blister. Several days later, the dead skin cells peel off. In severe cases, the burn may occur with sunstroke (vomiting, fever and collapse).
Diagnosis
Visual inspection and a history of exposure to the sun.
Treatment
Aspirin can ease pain and inflammation. Tender skin should be protected against the sun until it has healed. In addition, apply:
- calamine lotion
- sunburn cream or spray
- cool tap water compress
- colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno) baths
- dusting powder to reduce chafing
People who are severely sunburned should see a doctor, who may prescribe corticosteroid cream to speed healing.
Alternative treatment
Over-the-counter preparations containing aloe (Aloe barbadensis) are an effective treatment for sunburn, easing pain and inflammation while also relieving dryness of the skin. A variety of topical herbal remedies applied as lotions, poltices, or compresses may also help relieve the effects of sunburn. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of the most frequently recommended to reduce inflammation.
Prognosis
Moderately burned skin should heal within a week. While the skin will heal after a sunburn, the risk of skin cancer increases with exposure and subsequent burns. Even one bad burn in childhood carries an increased risk of skin cancer.
Prevention
Everyone from age six months on should use a water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 15. Apply at least an ounce 15-30 minutes before going outside. It should be reapplied every two hours (more often after swimming). Babies should be kept completely out of the sun for the first six months of life, because their skin is thinner than older children. Sunscreens have not been approved for infants.
Key terms
Malignant melanoma — The most deadly of the three types of skin cancer.
Sunscreen — Products which block the damaging rays of the sun. Good sunscreens contain either para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) or benzophenone, or both. Sunscreen protection factors range from 2-45.
In addition, people should:
- limit sun exposure to 15 minutes the first day, even if the weather is hazy, slowly increasing exposure daily
- reapply sunscreen every two hours (more often if sweating or swimming)
- reapply waterproof sunscreen after swimming more than 80 minutes, after toweling off, or after perspiring heavily
- avoid the sun between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.
- use waterproof sunscreen on legs and feet, since the sun can burn even through water
- wear an opaque shirt in water, because reflected rays are intensified
If using a sunscreen under SPF 15, simply applying more of the same SPF won't prolong allowed time in the sun. Instead, patients should use a higher SPF in order to lengthen exposure safely. A billed cap protects 70% of the face; a wide-brimmed hat is better. People at very high risk for skin cancer can wear clothing that blocks almost all UV rays, but most people can simply wear white cotton summer-weight clothing with a tight weave.
Resources
Periodicals
Tyler, Varro. "Aloe: Nature's Skin Soother." Prevention Magazine April 1, 1998: 94-96.
sunburn /sun·burn/ (sun´bern) injury to the skin, with erythema, tenderness, and sometimes blistering, after excessive exposure to sunlight, produced by unfiltered ultraviolet rays.
sun·burn (s n bûrn )n. Inflammation and erythema of the skin, often with blistering, caused by overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of direct sunlight. sun burn v. |
sunburn,
a skin injury characterized by redness, tenderness, and possible blistering that results from exposure to actinic radiation from the sun.
sunburn,
n injury to the skin caused by prolonged exposure to the sun characterized by mild tenderness to severe pain, heat, redness, and occasional blistering.
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Sunburn.
sunburn
inflammation—an actual burn—of the skin caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun as it occurs in humans does not occur in animals. White pigs suffer most and may develop a chronic dermatitis along the back, some may lose the tips of the ears by sloughing. Called also primary phototoxicity. Dogs and cats, particularly those with unpigmented skin on the dorsum of the nose, eyelids, ears or groin, may develop a chronic actinic dermatitis. Fish in cultivation ponds show white patches on the top of the head and corneal cataracts. See also solar dermatitis.
sunburn cells
dyskeratotic keratinocytes, either scattered or in a continuous band in the outer stratum spinosum, are characteristic of a sunburn lesion.
Patient discussion about Sun exposure.
Q. is it dangerouse to stay in the sun even if you don't get burned? how bad is it if you only get a little tan? does it matter what is your skin type in the first place? is only getting burned dangerouse, or being in the sun alltogether?
A. It depends on skin type.
White skins are more prone to freckles and sunburn, and even worse, skin cancer than those who have darker skins. Most skin cancer patients are white-skinned.
Melanin, responsible for darkening of our skin. It is more dominant on people with darker skin than whiter skin. If the skin has high melanin content, they are less prone to have skin cancer.
It is not the sun who directly causes our skin to darken but the melanin. Melanin multiplies when we are exposed to sun.
By the way, this info doesn't intend to terrify white-skinned people but to be aware of our skin. We must take care of our largest organ in our body because it serves as a protection our inner organs.
White skins are more prone to freckles and sunburn, and even worse, skin cancer than those who have darker skins. Most skin cancer patients are white-skinned.
Melanin, responsible for darkening of our skin. It is more dominant on people with darker skin than whiter skin. If the skin has high melanin content, they are less prone to have skin cancer.
It is not the sun who directly causes our skin to darken but the melanin. Melanin multiplies when we are exposed to sun.
By the way, this info doesn't intend to terrify white-skinned people but to be aware of our skin. We must take care of our largest organ in our body because it serves as a protection our inner organs.
Q. what does a sun block cream do? and what are a UV rays?
A. It blocks out harmful Ultra violet rays from the skin as the previous entries have related; however it can also block your ability to produce vitamin D. If you live in a northerly area or one that receives limited sunlight, its recommended to get at least 15 minutes of sun a day (this is probably best done with minimal sunblock) and according to personnal sun sensitivity. Another thing to keep in mind is that sunblock works best if applied 20 minutes before sun exposure.
Q. Can you get a serious burn injury from the sun? I went to the swimming pool today and i got burned. It looks like some one spilled boiling water all over my back.
A. Yes you can.
not only that the sun exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer, sun burn can be very painful.
to ease the pain you can rub the burned area with cold yogurt.
sounds strange but worked for me :)
Read more or ask a question about Sun exposurenot only that the sun exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer, sun burn can be very painful.
to ease the pain you can rub the burned area with cold yogurt.
sounds strange but worked for me :)
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