Summer Sunburn. Steps to take

Ah, summer break. It’s time to leave the daily grind behind and (hopefully) take some time to relax, enjoy yourself with friends and family escaping from the normal routine. It’s natural for people to flock toward places that offer a cool sea breeze, but they may find themselves unprepared for the intense ultraviolet (UV) rays that accompany that dreamy landscape. Sun protection accidents happen, even to those who are usually vigilant about avoiding sun damage. 

Too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, can lead to inflammation commonly known as sunburn.

Sunburn is the result of exposure to UV light, a harmful type of radiation.

The body protects itself from this type of radiation by increasing the production of melanin, the dark pigment that contributes to skin coloring. Extra melanin gives the skin a darker color. On lighter skin, people call this a tan.

However, melanin can only protect the body from a certain amount of UV light. Too much exposure causes the skin to burn.

Within a few hours, the skin will become red, painful, and hot to the touch. When sunburns are severe, blisters form, and the person may experience headaches or a fever.

A little sunshine is necessary to prevent problems such as vitamin D deficiency. Here, find out how to get the right amount of sunshine to maintain vitamin D levels.

Sunburn can vary in severity. The treatments are similar, but a person with a severe sunburn may need to continue treatment for longer.

To relieve symptoms of a sunburn:

• Move out of the sun, preferably into a cool area.
• Soak towels in cool water and lay them on the sunburned area.
• Moisturize the skin — with a product containing aloe vera, for example — to prevent dryness.
• Drink extra water to prevent dehydration and help the skin heal.
• Eat foods with a high concentration of water, such as cucumber or watermelon.
• Eat a healthful, balanced diet to encourage healing.
• Wear tightly-woven fabrics and stay out of the sun as much as possible until the skin has healed.
• Get some rest — sprinkling talcum powder on the sheets may keep them from sticking to the skin.

Everyone should take care when it comes to sun exposure, regardless of age, skin color, and time of day!