All About Sunburns: Risks, Prevention, and Treatment

With summer approaching, people are starting to spend more time in the sun as temperatures rise and UV levels increase.

Whether you’re tanning by the pool or getting some color while playing outside, it might make you look and feel better, but it comes with serious risks.

Sunscreen is a summer essential. Without proper SPF, you risk getting a sunburn – a common and painful skin condition caused by overexposure to the sun’s UV rays. It’s important to wear sunscreen daily to protect yourself from sun damage.

Sunburns are classified as first-degree or second-degree burns. All sunburns cause redness and a hot, burning sensation, but the severity increases with the degree. First-degree sunburns usually heal on their own within a few days to a week. In contrast, second-degree burns cause blisters and may require medical treatment.

Sunburns are very common. Between 50% and 75% of children younger than 18 have sunburns each year. It’s also important to note that individuals with light skin, blue eyes, or blonde hair have a higher risk of developing a sunburn.

“I get sunburnt every time I’m in the sun for longer than two hours, but only when the UV is high,” said Daniela Schemenauer, junior.

Use and apply sunscreen every 90 minutes to prevent yourself from getting a sunburn. Additionally, wearing hats and protective clothing can help reduce the amount of UV rays that reach your skin.

Without sun protection, hours after overexposure to UV rays, pain typically begins. The skin will become redder and hotter, and in some cases, it may peel and blister.

You can treat sunburns by taking cool showers or baths and using aloe vera gel. These methods help lower your skin’s temperature and provide a soothing, cooling effect.

Overall, it’s important to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of sunburns because multiple sunburns can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.