During the holiday season and open clothing, this is one of the most pressing problems, which in the future may have dire consequences for health. We tell you how to help with sunburn of the skin and prevent them in the future.
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- Dangerous consequences of tanning
- How to determine how badly you are sunburned
- How to treat a sunburn: first aid
- Sunburns in child
- What not to do
- How to avoid getting sunburned
With the arrival of summer, many people try to spend more time outdoors outside the city, in a park or by a pond, sometimes spending several hours in the open sun. In the absence of adequate protection from the sun (or rather, from ultraviolet rays), such an unpleasant situation as a sunburn of the skin may arise. Today we’ll talk about how to properly help yourself in this case.
Sunburn is damage (inflammation) of the skin resulting from exposure to ultraviolet rays on the exposed surface of the body. It should be remembered that sunburn of the skin can be obtained not only from direct sunlight, but also as a result of their reflection from the surface of the sand or water surface, for example, sitting under an umbrella on the beach. Sunburn can be caused by swimming in water, as UV rays penetrate well into water. We should not forget that you can get sunburned even when skiing in the mountains, when the impact of the sun's rays increases when they are reflected from the snow, when rafting on rivers, as well as when visiting a solarium.
Dangerous consequences of tanning
Despite the fact that exposure to the sun has long been considered one of the elements of a healthy lifestyle, today more and more scientists and specialists are inclined to believe that the sun does more harm to health than good. It is type A sun rays that are to blame for the occurrence of skin cancer, premature aging and skin dehydration. Moreover, the more direct rays hit the skin, the more damage it will receive.
Natalya Lukashova Dermatologist-cosmetologist, pediatric dermatologist Ultraviolet is invisible to the eyes, and its effect has a cumulative effect, so sunburn does not appear instantly, but only after a few hours. The first symptoms may appear after 1-3 hours, the maximum symptoms of sunburn appear after 12-24 hours.
The following factors also increase the risk of sunburn:
- Skin color. The lighter the skin, the less resistant it is to the damaging effects of sunlight. .
- Eye and hair color. It has been proven that fair-haired and light-eyed people are more susceptible to sun damage than dark-skinned and dark-eyed people.
- Age. Children and older adults are more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV radiation.
- Time of year and time of day. In summer, the sun is more active than in winter; as for the time of day, the sun is most harmful at the height of the day, as it is at its zenith.
- Taking medications and using cosmetics. Some types of medications and cosmetics increase skin sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation. For example, products with retinol, which are used to combat acne and wrinkles. Such products should not be consumed or applied before going outside.
How to determine how badly you are burned
Sunburn, as well as thermal burns, can be first, second and third degree. It is extremely difficult to get sunburned to the third degree (you need to try very hard and spend the whole day under the scorching rays, for example, having an exciting conversation), but to get to the first or second degree is easy!
I degree
It is characterized by redness of the skin, which may be accompanied by a burning sensation and an increase in body temperature (both general and at the site of injury). It can be acquired already in the first 15-20 minutes of exposure to the sun, and symptoms can be noticed only a few hours after sunbathing.
II degree
Water blisters appear because the deeper layers of the skin are affected. A second-degree burn goes away completely in about 12 days, leaving no scars: the dead skin simply peels off like a film.
III degree
Severe pain, burning of the skin, and the appearance of blisters filled with ichor indicate extremely severe damage to the skin. Usually there are consequences: scars subsequently remain at the site of sun damage.
These are not all the consequences of prolonged exposure to the scorching rays of the sun. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the risk of:
- melanoma (skin cancer);
- cataracts;
- pigment spots;
- premature wrinkles.
Natalya Lukashova Dermatologist-cosmetologist, pediatric dermatologist Even a mild burn often provokes the formation of pigment spots on the surface of the skin and can be the cause development of skin cancer years later.
How to treat a sunburn: first aid
If a sunburn does happen, what to do at home &mdash ; The following rules will tell you:
- At the first symptoms of sunburn, the first thing to do is to stop exposing the affected area of skin to sunlight. Depending on the severity of the burn, this may involve using a sunscreen with a maximum sun protection factor of SPF 50+, shielding the skin with clothing, or completely stopping exposure to the sun. It is better to stay in a cool room with an air conditioner or fan.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, which are most effective at an early stage of the disease. For example, aspirin, ibuprofen. In case of itching or if the sunburn is swelling, antihistamines can help.
- It is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, since hot skin evaporates a lot of liquid. This will help you avoid dehydration.
- In the first hours and days of a burn, cooling procedures in the form of cold lotions (for a small affected area) or wet wraps for a widespread process are very effective. For a cold lotion, you can use ordinary boiled water or a weak infusion of black loose tea, chamomile decoction (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water), cooled to a temperature of 10-12 C. The lotion should be done 2-3 times a day for 20-30 minutes. During this time, a moistened and wrung out gauze napkin, folded in 6-7 layers, should be replaced 15-20 times. Due to its physical properties, the cold lotion, having an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves pain and brings relief.
- A good alternative to lotions may be to spray thermal water on the affected areas of the body, which can be found in almost all medical and cosmetic lines for skin care.
- For widespread sunburn, wet wraps are indicated.
- A cold bath or shower also brings temporary relief and can be repeated if necessary.
- If blisters appear on the skin, you should never puncture them, this will help prevent infection.
- Proven to work well for sunburn, dexpanthenol-based products. They stimulate regeneration processes and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Dexpanthenol in the form of a spray can be used even in the acute period of sunburn, focusing on subjective sensations.
- As acute inflammation subsides, it is possible to use light emollients in the form of milk or cream to moisturize the skin.
- Treatment should be continued for as long as necessary to relieve the symptoms of sunburn and until the skin is completely restored. Among the folk remedies to reduce the burning sensation and heat on the skin, you can use raw grated potatoes, a compress of fresh cabbage leaves, aloe vera gel.
- In case of very severe burns with a large number of blisters, as well as in general health problems, you should consult a doctor.
Sunburn in a child
Children's skin is more susceptible to sunburn because its cells do not yet “know how” to produce melanin. That's why babies' skin burns so quickly. If you notice that your baby has become lethargic, his skin is red and burning, immediately take him out of the sun. Rinse it with cool water and gently pat your skin dry with a towel. Apply a restorative and soothing agent, such as panthenol, to irritated areas.
Symptoms that should alert you
- High body temperature.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever.
- Increased pulse and breathing.
- In rare cases, loss of consciousness.
In such conditions that accompany a sunburn, treatment at home can aggravate the situation – urgently needed seek medical help!
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What not to do
So that the skin recovers as as soon as possible, it is better not to perform these actions.
- Do not use sour cream and other fat-containing products, because they can only cause even more harm. Sour cream or another product with a high fat content (vegetable oil, petroleum jelly) applied to a burn will “seal” the skin and deprive it of oxygen, which will significantly slow down recovery. In addition, the high temperature will remain under the fat layer, that is, the thermal effect on the skin will continue.
- Do not wear synthetic tight clothing. After a sunburn (even the slightest one), the skin becomes very sensitive to various kinds of tactile sensations. Friction against clothing (especially synthetic ones) in such a situation only aggravates the damage and seems extremely painful. Therefore, while your skin is recovering, give preference to clothes made from natural fabrics, for example, things made from linen will give your skin the necessary cooling.
- Do not do peelings or other traumatic procedures for the skin. Even if you use a washcloth in the shower, this can cause severe irritation. It’s not worth talking about acid peels and scrubs.
- Don't go out into the sun. If you feel like going outside, it’s better to find some shade and stay in it; you won’t benefit from overheating. In addition, create additional protection by wearing light clothing with long sleeves and trousers (maxi skirt is an option), a hat and sunglasses (the cornea of your eyes should also be protected from the sun).
How not to get sunburned: prevention of burns
In addition to preventive measures such as sunscreens, closed clothing and hats, there are also so-called preventive ones. It is important to reduce the skin's susceptibility to sunlight.
- If you are going on vacation to a hot country, a couple of weeks before departure you can take preparations with beta-carotene: they enhance the protective properties of the skin. But before buying them, be sure to consult a doctor.
- Some foods strengthen the immune system and help the skin resist aggressive UV rays. Studies have shown that people who eat tomatoes are less susceptible to sunburn and skin redness in the sun.