The sun provides numerous benefits to our health, both physically and mentally. However, it is also dangerous if we do not pay attention and expose ourselves to it or to ultraviolet light for a long time, causing sunburn.
The first signs of overexposure may take more than 24 hours to become visible , and although the discomfort of sunburn is temporary, the damage caused to the skin is often frequent. Its long-term effects must also be taken into consideration, with the increased likelihood of skin diseases with a poor prognosis, such as melanoma.
The main symptoms are well known and can vary depending on the type of exposure and the severity of the burn. In most cases, the skin becomes red and more sensitive , causing discomfort or even pain with simple rubbing. Blisters then appear and the skin will peel off.
In some cases there are even more serious reactions, known as sun allergy, with the presence of fever and chills.
How to treat sunburn?
We should always avoid damaging our skin, which will take its toll on us in the long run. However, if it is too late for prevention, we can try to alleviate the discomfort of sunburn and recover as soon as possible .
The main indications will be hydration, both internal and external, and reducing inflammation. Equally important is pain relief , in this case not for the correct regeneration of the skin but to maintain an adequate level of well-being.
For hydration, it is important to drink enough water to alleviate the effects of sunstroke , which may or may not be present. It is also important to use emollient creams that soften and quickly moisturize the skin, avoiding the main discomforts.
Inflammation can also be reduced using water, but in this case we will benefit from its temperature. Cold water reduces inflammation locally and minimizes pain. However, caution is required with the method of application, as the skin is very sensitive and should not be rubbed. Likewise, ice is not recommended, as it can cause new burns and worsen the situation.
It will also be beneficial to use antioxidant substances that promote tissue recovery and help reduce inflammation once again. These substances can be found in many foods that we have in our pantry and many of them will provide us, at the same time, with a good amount of water.
Home treatments
There are several home treatments that we have available and can put into practice to relieve the discomfort of sunburn.
Before starting any treatment, it is essential to wash the area gently to remove substances such as sand from the beach or salt from the sea water. You can apply tap water directly, although the jet of water should not directly hit the skin, which is extremely sensitive. Ideally, you should immerse the area, with a bath for example, or use cold water compresses, but without rubbing.
By cleansing the skin we can eliminate harmful substances and also reduce the discomfort or pain caused by the burn.
Afterwards, we must properly moisturize the area , avoiding products that contain alcohol or benzocaine, which can cause skin irritation, worsening the situation. If there is no blistering, creams with aloe vera or centella asiatica can be very helpful.
If blisters have formed, it is important to leave them intact to avoid the risk of infection . The widespread idea of opening them to allow them to heal sooner is not only of great help but can also make the situation worse with irritation or infection of the area.
In any case, cell regeneration will take some time and, although the severe pain will last only the first few days , care must continue until the cell regeneration is complete. And prevention of a similar situation should be taken into account for future occasions.
Creams for sunburn
If we want to reduce itching and inflammation, a sunburn cream is the most practical solution and can be used even outside the home. The relief is almost immediate and, although it does not last long, you can always reapply a little more. In the meantime, it also serves tomoisturize the skin so the benefits are numerous.
Most after-sun creams have the necessary pain-relieving properties and are emollients to protect and moisturize the skin. However, depending on the type of burn, you can choose the most suitable cream , whether it is an after-sun cream or a moisturizing cream.
If the burn is limited to a slight redness of the skin, moisturising cream will be enough. However, it is more common to need to use after sun to alleviate all the discomfort.
Indeed, after sun has been specially designed to heal sunburned skin . Its ingredients often include mint, which soothes irritation, provides a feeling of freshness and helps the skin to recover. It also commonly contains aloe vera, with its moisturising, cell repair and healing properties. In addition, it has an anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing effect, thanks to components derived from chamomile and calendula.
Types of sunburn
To fully understand the severity of burns and to be able to classify them correctly, it is essential to know the skin and distinguish its layers.
The skin is an organ that is made up of 3 distinct and well-defined layers . Each layer is subdivided into other portions with their own characteristics, but to recognize the type of burn, it will be enough to find out which layer has been affected in order to recognize the depth and, therefore, the severity.
The outermost layer that is in contact with the environment is the epidermis . It is the one we see and touch. It is in this layer that we can observe the signs of burns, although it can also affect the lower layers.
Beneath the epidermis is the dermis. The dermis is the middle layer of the skin . It is a thick, elastic, deep layer in its upper portion that contacts the epidermis. Its lower portion is in contact with the hypodermis.
The hypodermis is the innermost layer of the skin and is where the blood vessels are located . If the burn reaches this layer, nerve endings will be destroyed. Burns caused by excessive exposure to the sun or ultraviolet rays do not usually affect this layer.
Sunburns are classified according to the depth, area and extent of the burn, with the more tissue damaged being more serious. Thus, they can be classified as first, second and third degree burns, depending on the type of skin layers affected by the burn. The severity, apart from the depth, is also related to the extent of the burn (percentage of the body with damage) and the area of the body damaged, with the most serious being, as expected, if it affects areas of greater danger to maintaining health.
The most common types of sunburn are first and second degree burns.
First degree burns
It affects the epidermis, that is, the most superficial layer of the skin. It usually causes redness, itching, burning, tightness and slight discomfort when rubbed or even slight pain . Among burns, it is the one with the least depth and, therefore, the least serious. It does not usually leave any after-effects, however, that does not mean that its dangers should not be taken into account and that efforts should not be made to avoid it.
Surely, many people have suffered this type of burn without having taken it into account. Not because they have not seen it but because they do not associate it with a burn as such. Red skin after a day at the beach corresponds to a first degree burn even if there is no pain. There is almost always a simple discomfort when rubbing and the pain is limited to areas where the skin is more sensitive and the burn has reached the next degree.
Second degree burns
Apart from the epidermis, which will be affected, the burn reaches the dermis. It is a deeper burn than a first-degree burn and, therefore, its severity is greater .
In terms of discomfort, it causes the same as first-degree burns, but there is also considerable inflammation and blisters appear.
Third degree burns
The burn is really deep and reaches all three layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis). Regarding the symptoms, there could be intense pain, although that is not what actually happens. The burn completely destroys the tissues and also the nerve endings, so they are painless .
In terms of severity, third-degree burns are the most serious of all. In fact, this type of burn usually leaves a scar after the tissue has fully recovered.
If you want to know more about skin care , we have articles on our blog about what natural products exist for skin care or what facial creams we have to prevent skin aging so that you can continue learning from our experts.