Symptoms Of A Sunburn
Summer is the best season for enjoying the sunshine and heat outdoors. For many beachgoers, laying on the sand for hours to get a bronze tan sounds like an ideal day, but your skin can prove otherwise.
The long days of summer create more chances to be exposed to the sun’s harmful rays. A sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) light. Failing to use sunscreen (or failing to reapply) can result in painful, burned skin. Even though sunburns are quite common and mostly self-diagnosable, they can put you at risk of serious long-term damage.
If you get burned and need medical assistance, don’t hesitate to come into our office in Aliso Viejo. Our team will help you create a plan to heal as quickly as possible. You can walk in with no appointment needed on any day of the week.
It can be difficult knowing if you are catching a burn while you’re outside having fun, therefore it’s important to be aware of the symptoms ahead of time.
These are some signs you are forming a sunburn:
Your Skin Feels Itchy
The very first warning sign of sunburn is itchy skin. People often experience itchiness when burned because of the inflammatory cytokines that are released after damage. These cytokines are active and cause irritation to the top layer of skin. If your skin begins to feel itchy, avoid scratching as it can damage the skin even further.
Your Skin Gets Red
Most people notice they have a sunburn because of the redness that appears shortly after spending time in the sun. As the first visible sign of damage, the skin will appear white to touch and vary in redness depending on the amount of damage. For some people, redness can accumulate within minutes of overexposure.
Your Skin Feels Warm
When your skin is sunburned, it will feel hot for a few days due to overheating. This heat is commonly accompanied with pain, as the top layer of skin is weakened from the UV ray damage. We recommend applying frequent cold compresses to help cool the skin down.
Your Skin Is Dry
Sunburns often cause your body to feel overly dehydrated. Along with painful, itchy, and red skin, most burns will bring dryness and peeling. It’s important not to peel the dead skin that is flaking off in order for the layers to heal properly. To help bring moisture back into your skin, drink plenty of water, and apply aloe vera multiple times a day.
Nothing can ruin a summer day like a sunburn. Even with little sun exposure, your skin may feel the effects of the sun’s strong and harmful rays. If you are going to enjoy a day outside, be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen and always reapply.
The damage of the sun’s rays is cumulative. Every day that you do not use sunscreen is another day that is increasing your risk of damage that can develop into skin cancer.
If you would like to get more information on ways to protect your skin, come into our office to speak with our physician assistants and doctors. We are open every day of the week and are available to address any questions or concerns you may have.
