When the sun’s out your mood improves and you want to spend as much
time as possible outdoors. But be careful not to over-expose your skin
to the sun. When you get too much sun, you get sunburn. And sunburn causes
many health problems – long-term and short-term, cosmetic and serious.
Read on to discover more about the nature of sunburn and the particular
risks associated with over-exposure to the sun’s UV rays.
- Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun causes sunburn.
- There are two types of UV light – UVA and UVB rays. Both these rays
cause problems for your skin but UVB rays tend to have a more dramatic effect.
- Skin damage from sunburn occurs before you see any redness or feel any
pain. It can be difficult to know when you are damaging your skin so the
important thing to remember is not to spend too long in the sun without
protection – even if you feel and look fine.
- Sunburn results in red, painful, tender and hot skin that may peel or become
blistered – the effects of sunburn last up to a week. In order to
recover from sunburn, stay out of the sun, cool the area with a wet cloth,
apply after-sun cooling gel or spray, and make sure you keep broken skin
clean and dry.
- The health risks of sunburn include premature skin aging, skin cancer,
infection, and eye damage.
- If you have five or more sunburns in your childhood or adolescence you
are twice as likely to suffer from skin cancer when older.
- Sunburn and repeated sun exposure without burning causes your skin to age
prematurely. Signs of premature aging include wrinkles, lines, sagging
skin, sun spots, dry and rough skin, and areas of discoloration.
- Sunburned skin may become infected when bacteria enter through cracks or
blisters in the skin. Signs of infection include swelling, redness, pain,
and overall sickness – see a doctor if you develop signs of infection.
- Sunburn may also damage your eyes. Exposure to UV rays causes lens clouding,
vision problems, and eye pain.
It is important to prevent sunburn because once sunburn occurs, the damage
has already been done and it cannot be reversed. Stay out of the strong
sun in the middle of the day, be careful with sunscreen, and wear a wide-brimmed
hat and sunglasses.