Sunburn

Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin due to too much uv radiation. Read who is at particular risk, what forms there are and what helps!

Sunburn

sunburn (Dermatitis solaris) is an acute inflammation of the skin caused by too much sun (or UV radiation from other sources). Fair-skinned people are particularly vulnerable to it. A mild sunburn is only redness, but a strong sunburn causes blistering on the skin and can leave scars. Frequent sunburn also promotes the development of skin cancer. Read here everything important for sunburn.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally valid medical diagnosis codes. They are found e.g. in doctor's letters or on incapacity certificates. L59L55

Product Overview

sunburn

  • description

  • symptoms

  • Causes and risk factors

  • Examinations and diagnosis

  • treatment

  • Sunburn - that helps

  • Disease course and prognosis

Sunburn: Description

A sunburn (dermatitis solaris) is an acute inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin, which is accompanied by a visible reddening of the skin to blistering. The cause is too much UV radiation (especially UV-B radiation) - regardless of whether it comes from the sun or an artificial radiation source.

The radiation damage primarily affects the epidermis, ie the uppermost skin layer. But even in the underlying layer, the dermis, inflammation can occur. Repeated cases of sunburn over the years also cause the skin to age faster and can eventually lead to skin cancer.

Skin types and self-protection time

The different skin types are differently prone to sunburn:

People with very light skin, reddish blond hair, blue or green eyes and freckles are among the Skin type I, Unprotected, they can only be in the sun for five to ten minutes before their skin turns red (self-protection time) - signs of sunburn. Brown skin is practically nonexistent.

Of the Skin type II characterized by blonde to dark blonde hair, a light skin and blue or green eyes. The self-protection time is ten to 20 minutes.

Dark blond to brown-haired people with darker skins correspond to that Skin type III, You can stay exposed to the sun for 20 to 30 minutes without the skin becoming red.

People from Skin type IV have dark brown to black hair and brownish tinted skin. Its self-protection time is 30 to 40 minutes.

Children: Especially are at risk for sunburn

Children are particularly prone to sunburn because their skin is even more sensitive than that of adults. This is especially true for babies and toddlers because they still have a very thin and pigmented skin.

In children, sunburn affects the face, arms and legs most often as these are often exposed to direct sunlight in the summer without protection. In addition, it can be easier for children to get a sunstroke or heat exhaustion.

sun allergy

To distinguish from sunburn is the sun allergy: It form after sun exposure small wheals, itchy spots or blisters on the skin. Acne-like nodules are observed in adolescents.

Sunburn: symptoms

A sunburn is a burning, as it occurs, for example, after skin contact with fire. The severity of the sunburn depends on the intensity and duration of the sun's rays as well as on individual conditions (such as the skin type). There are three severity levels:

Grade 1: Slight sunburn; The affected skin areas are reddened and overheated, stretch and are often slightly swollen. The sunburn itches and burns.

Grade 2: In a 2nd degree sunburn bubbles form on the skin. Later, the skin starts to peel.

Grade 3: The third degree sunburn corresponds to a severe burn. The uppermost skin layers are destroyed and detach. Scars can be left behind.

In case of large-scale sunburn with blistering, fever and general symptoms can also occur. You must not open the blisters yourself, otherwise an infection may be associated with sunburn.

Lips are very sensitive to too much UV radiation. Within hours, especially on the lower lip redness and swelling occur. In addition, lip sunburn can cause blisters, crusts, scaling and burning pain. In general, a sunburn on the face is particularly unpleasant.

Sunburn: duration

Sunburn shows the first symptoms about six to eight hours after sun exposure. After 24 to 36 hours, the symptoms reach their peak and then fade away after one to two weeks.

Sunburn: causes and risk factors

Sunlight consists of beams of different wavelengths. Responsible for a sunburn is the ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation). Depending on the wavelength, it is divided into:

  • UV-A radiation (wavelength: 400 to 315 nanometers = nm)
  • UV-B radiation (315 to 280 nm)
  • UV-C radiation (280 to 100 nm)

The shorter the wavelength, the more energetic and damaging the radiation.

Sunburn is mainly caused by UV-B radiation. It damages cells in the epidermis, whereupon these release inflammatory mediating messengers (inflammatory mediators such as chemokines, prostaglandins). Within a few hours, these trigger an inflammation in the underlying skin layer (dermis). It comes to a sunburn with the typical symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching and pain.

The shorter wavelength UV-A radiation can penetrate deeper into the skin and eyes than the UV-B radiation. It enhances the UV-B effect and is also involved in the aging process of the skin.

The UV-C radiation is even more dangerous and would cause even more sunburn than UV-B light. However, it is almost completely filtered out in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere, so it does not reach the earth's surface.

Sunburn: influencing factors

Whether one gets a sunburn and how severe it is depends, among other things, on how long the solar radiation affects the skin. The skin type also plays an important role: fair-skinned people get a sunburn faster than people with a darker skin tone, because they have fewer pigments in their skin, blocking the sun's rays.

Certain regions of the body are also more sensitive than others. Sun-soaked parts of the body, such as the arms and hands, are less prone to sunburn than areas of the skin that normally have less sunshine (such as soles, thighs, buttocks, etc.).

Sunburn & solarium

Tanning in solariums is often considered less harmful to health than sunbathing. The artificial UV radiation in solariums has the same acute and long-term effects on the body as the natural UV light of the sun (faster skin aging, sunburn, increased skin cancer risk).

With pre-tanning in sunbeds you often want to prepare the skin for the summer sun. However, many sunbeds only emit UV-A radiation: one then turns brown, but the UV-protection of the skin (as a prevention against sunburn) hardly builds up, because it requires sufficient UV-B radiation.

Apart from that, there is a risk of developing skin cancer even with tanned skin.

Sunburn: examinations and diagnosis

Not every sunburn needs to be examined by a doctor. A light sunburn can also be treated independently. In the following cases of sunburn, however, a doctor's visit is advisable:

  • Redness and severe pain
  • blistering
  • a headache
  • Nausea and vomiting

If toddlers or babies get sunburned, you should always go to the pediatrician.

The doctor first records the medical history (anamnesis). He asks, for example, the nature and extent of the complaints, when they occurred and if and for how long the affected skin was exposed unprotected UV radiation. This is followed by a physical examination in which the doctor carefully examines the skin. In most cases, the diagnosis of sunburn can already be made on the basis of the anamnesis and the classic symptoms.

Sunburn: treatment

How a sunburn is treated depends mainly on a severity.

In a light sunburn, it is usually sufficient to cool the affected skin. For this you can make a wet / cold envelope, for example, with cold chamomile or green tea, yogurt or quark.

You may also be able to apply soothing lotions with dexpanthenol or calendula or cooling aloe vera lotions or gels. For children, it must be ensured that the preparations are suitable for this age group.

If necessary, a doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid ("cortisone"), which is applied locally - as a cream or lotion.

In case of a sunburn of the second degree a doctor should be consulted. This can punctually puncture the blisters. As a result, the liquid comes out and the bubbles can heal faster. You should not open the bubbles, because they can then easily get infected.

In addition, the doctor may put on a stronger sunburn a bandage with an antiseptic ointment and greasy gauze. Against the pain and inflammation, he can also prescribe pills, such as the active ingredient diclofenac.

A third degree sunburn is usually treated in the hospital, because there is a high risk of infection here. Often the patient gets infusions with liquid and mineral salts. Also drugs are given, for example, antibiotics for invading bacteria.

Sunburn - that helps

More tips and treatment options can be found in the text sunburn - that helps against it.

Sunburn: disease course and prognosis

The prognosis for a sunburn depends on the severity of the burns. A mild sunburn usually heals within a few days and leaves no lasting damage. In more severe cases of sunburn, the healing process takes longer and scars can remain.

Sunburn & skin cancer

A sunburn is often considered to be quite harmless - a fatal misjudgment: even if the superficial layers of the skin regenerate after sunburn, traces of damage remain in deeper tissue layers. And the radiation damage of each sunburn, which you get in the course of his life, add up. After all, it can lead to skin cancer, especially if you had strong sunburns as a child.

More episodes of sunburn

UV rays also cause damage to the skin before a sunburn becomes visible. Regular sun exposure makes the skin coarse-pored and less elastic and promotes the formation of blackheads and wrinkles.

Prevent sunburn

You can prevent sunburn most effectively by staying out of the blazing sun, if at all possible, or only for a short while unprotected. Especially in the noon, when the UV radiation is most intense, you should stay in the shade. Some protection against sunburn is provided by long clothes and a sun hat. The latter is also very important for another reason: Too much sunlight on the head can lead to sunstroke with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and consciousness clouding.

If you Sports In summer you should choose the morning or evening hours when the radiation intensity is lower.

Use one Sunscreens High SPF to protect your skin from sunburn and other radiation damage. But this only works if you apply a sufficient amount of cream, at least 30 minutes, before going out into the sun. Repeat the creaming if you have sweated heavily, as well as after swimming.

When staying in the water Caution should always be exercised: At one meter depth, 50 percent of the UV-B radiation and 80 percent of the UV-A radiation are measured in comparison to radiation outside the water. So you can also get a sunburn while swimming and snorkeling (about the back). This is usually noticed too late, because under water hardly any infrared light hits the skin (water absorbs this part of the solar radiation for the most part). However, the infrared would heat the skin and thus warn of an impending sunburn. So to protect yourself from sunburn in the water, you should choose a sunscreen that is not easy to wash off. As an extra protection against sunburn, you should wear a T-shirt while diving or snorkeling.

The intensity of UV radiation increases with the elevation and with increasing near the equator, In the mountains or on the Mediterranean you get more sunburn than in valleys or in Finland.

Not to be underestimated is the Reflection of solar radiation: Surfaces like water, snow or sand throw back the UV radiation like a mirror, which makes them stronger. So you can drive about the pedal boat or especially easy on the ski slope sunburn pick up.

Sunburn

FAQ - 💬

❓ How do I get rid of a sunburn fast?

👉 How to treat sunburn

  1. Take frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain. ...
  2. Use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin. ...
  3. Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling, redness and discomfort.
  4. Drink extra water.

❓ How long do sunburn last for?

👉 A moderate sunburn, where the skin is swollen and hot to the touch, can take a week to heal completely. A severe sunburn, characterized by intensely hot, red skin followed by blisters, can take up to two weeks to heal.

❓ How serious is sunburn?

👉 The skin will normally start to flake and peel after a few days and will usually fully heal within seven days. While sunburn is often short-lived and mild, it's important to try to avoid it, because it can increase your chances of developing serious health problems, such as skin cancer, in later life.

❓ What heals sunburn?

👉 Cool the skin for about 10 minutes several times a day. Apply a moisturizer, lotion or gel. An aloe vera lotion or gel or calamine lotion can be soothing. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying.

❓ Do sunburns turn into tans?

👉 The bottom line. There's no guarantee that your sunburn will turn into a tan, especially if you're fair-skinned. Your best bet for a guaranteed tan (that's also safe) is to just do it yourself (or have someone else do it for you) with a self-tanner or a spray tan.

❓ How do you make sunburn go away overnight?

👉 How to get rid of sunburn on your face and body fast:

  1. Take a cool bath or shower. ...
  2. Apply aloe. ...
  3. Use an ice pack or compress. ...
  4. Drink lots of water. ...
  5. Don't pop any blisters. ...
  6. Protect against further damage. ...
  7. Try over-the-counter medications. ...
  8. Skip heat-trapping products.

❓ Does sunburn get worse at night?

👉 However, a sunburn can actually take about one to three days to fully develop, meaning the irritation you feel on day one may continue to advance throughout the night, affecting your sleep.

❓ Does aloe vera help sunburn?

👉 Aloe vera also has anti-inflammatory properties and high water content that helps hydrate the skin. While scientific evidence is limited, aloe vera is growing in popularity as a sunburn treatment. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, moisturizers containing aloe vera can help to soothe sunburn.

❓ Why do sunburns feel hot?

👉 This causes the skin's blood vessels to leak into the spaces between cells and other skin structures. It's this extra fluid and the swelling it causes that lead to the red skin, hot sensation and painful sensitivity of freshly sunburnt skin.

❓ What is the best home remedy for sunburn?

👉 Home remedies for sunburn

  • Cold compresses. Apply a clean, lint-free cold towel or washcloth several times a day for 10-15 minutes.
  • Vinegar. Cider vinegar can promote healing and restore pH balance. ...
  • Essential oils. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Coconut oil. ...
  • Aloe vera. ...
  • Witch hazel. ...
  • Cucumbers.

❓ Is it better to sleep naked after sunburn?

👉 Sleepwear: Too much friction can aggravate the sunburn, so choosing fabrics like jersey cotton, loosely woven linen or silk can offer a bit more comfort. Pro tip: Sleeping nude may actually be your best bet, unless your sheets are harsh on the skin.

❓ What is sunburn?

👉 Jump to navigation Jump to search. burning of the skin by the sun's radiation. Sunburn is a form of radiation burn that affects living tissue, such as skin, that results from an overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, usually from the Sun.

❓ What are the dangers of sunburns?

👉 A sunburn is actually a radiation burn to your skin. Multiple sunburns can lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. You can minimize your risk of sunburn by taking steps to protect your skin.

❓ How can I prevent sunburn?

👉 The most effective way to prevent sunburn is to reduce the amount of UV radiation reaching the skin. The World Health Organization, American Academy of Dermatology, and Skin Cancer Foundation recommend the following measures to prevent excessive UV exposure and skin cancer: The strength of sunlight is published in many locations as a UV Index.

❓ What causes sunburn on the face?

👉 Sunburn is caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light may be from sunlight or artificial sources, such as sunlamps and tanning beds. Melanin is the dark pigment in the skin's outer layer that gives skin its normal color. When you're exposed to UV light, your body protects itself by producing melanin faster.


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