The sunburn It is damage to the skin due to overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. In normal situations, sunburn causes mild pain and affects the outer part of the skin. With a little time and care, you will soon get relief. The only thing that will happen is that the skin will become a little inflamed and will turn red. So to prevent this from happening to you, it is best to use sunscreen from the beginning. sun creams if possible with SPF 50 protection , not forgetting your face. Protection should be applied daily. Any professional specializing in skin health, whether dermatologists or people who work with skin care advice, recommend using specific sun protection for the face, factor 50 and every day of the year .
The skin is the great forgotten one in health care. When it is exposed to extreme heat, the proteins it has are denatured. To give you an idea, it is as if they were cooked. The cells die and the body responds in the form of inflammation and subsequently, redness of the fur. It's annoying, but sunburns are not serious in most cases. Anyway, let's take a look at what types of burns there are and what you can do about them to give you a clearer idea.
Types of burns
Typically, there are three levels of burns:
- First degree : It is the mildest because it affects the outer layer of the skin and causes the typical redness, swelling and some pain.
- Second degree : You will know if you are at this level because it affects the outer layer and a little more of the inner layer. In addition to pain, red and swollen skin, you will have blisters. These are also called "partial thickness burns."
- Third degree : These are of "full thickness" because they affect the innermost layers of the skin, which in some cases may take on a whitish color and in others, a darker tone. In addition, it may be numb.
Sunburns are usually first and second degree. If you have not used sun protection frequently and have been sunburned, you should moisturise your skin very well with creams such as "After Sun", without forgetting to drink plenty of fluids.
If the pain persists or other symptoms such as chills, fever, etc. begin to appear, consult a doctor to clear up any doubts. You may be needing some painkiller and not know it. In any case, the skin regenerates with some guidelines that the doctor will tell you to follow and if it is a superficial burn, it will not leave a scar. However, that does not mean that you have suffered and that there will be consequences in the future such as premature aging of the skin, spots, etc. Third degree burns do tend to leave scars.
Treatment for burns
- Refresh your skin . You can put a damp towel on it or take a bath with cool water and baking soda. For more relief, refresh it several times a day.
- Drink plenty of water . It is very important to drink plenty of water during the 48 hours after the surgery. sunburn since the hydration will help to regenerate the fur.
- Apply moisturizer . It is important to moisturize the skin with cream as well, even if it starts to peel.
- Medications . If your doctor advises it, given your situation, you can relieve the itching with an antihistamine or a cream containing corticosteroids.
- Protect yourself from the sun . Avoid by all means allowing the affected area to get sunburned again. As simple as it may seem, you often do this without even realizing it.
What parts of the body are most vulnerable to sunburn?
There are parts of the body that need more special protection than others. The neckline, the neck, the bald spot, the face, the ears, the shoulders, the insteps and the hands are the areas that are most recommended to be protected because they are a little more vulnerable to sunburn. And it should not only be done by using sun protection creams, but also with clothing, hats, avoiding exposure to ultraviolet rays during the hottest hours (12 to 16 hours). And this refers not only to beaches and swimming pools, but also to not doing physical activity during those hours and without sun protection.
What you should keep in mind
The sunscreen should be used depending on the person's age, skin type and sun exposure circumstances. One of the things to keep in mind and that many people forget because it seems obvious is Apply the cream correctly . Just in case, first read the instructions on the label. Then, apply the cream generously all over your body at least half an hour before exposure and spread it well to cover all parts of the body and ensure that they are dry. You should take this into account even more if you use spray or mist protection. Also, do not use the creams from one year to the next because they lose effectiveness.
You should also take into account the instructions for children's creams , if you are going to put the cream on your children or grandchildren, in addition to using a high protection factor, they need to cover them with hats or caps, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing and moisturize them more often.
The Sun rays penetrate on the skin in a manner invisible, It may seem like nothing is happening, but they really damage the skin. This also applies to cloudy days. You often get carried away because the sun is not out and when you finish the day you are red from head to toe and sore. The same applies if you go out for sports, hiking, spending the day in the countryside, etc. Excessive sun exposure and bad hours of being in the sun are universal, regardless of where you are.