Summer Sunburn

It is summer and it is hot. The sun is shining. Along with the shining sun comes the summertime ailment of sunburn. Nearly everyone who has tried to have some summertime, outdoor fun has felt its pink-to-blistering-red sting. But there are some preventative measures you can take to avoid or lessen your chances of burning. Also, there are several ways to treat sunburn from mild to severe cases.

Well, as far as preventative measures the first is usually to just cover up. Wear clothing over sensitive skin or skin that is not used to the sun. If you have to cover all the way up. I know you'll be saying, "That would be just too hot! I'd be sweating bullets!" But actually if you know which fabrics to choose, you can cover up from the UV rays and stay relatively cool. It is how they manage in the dessert with those long robes and head covers; they have lighter materials and almost always use lighter colors like white or cream or light tan. Those colors reflect a lot of the heat rays and don't let them get through to your skin where it will make you hot, so you're effectively in a shade tent made of clothes. Clothing is an easy way to protect your skin from UV rays which will make you burn and only uses items you already own or would buy anyway.

However, if wearing clothing cover to the beach isn't your idea of swimwear, there are other ways to protect your skin as well. There is the ever-present sunscreen. It seems there are lots of commercials now days for sunscreen and many different brands to choose from. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, or fair, and how long you plan to be out in the direct sun, you should pick an SPF rating that suits. SPF15 is about the lowest you will see commonly, and the highest I have actually used is about SPF45. That's strong stuff, let me tell you. Whichever SPF rating you decide on, you definitely want to sunscreen-up before you get out in the sun. All these movies that show handsome men and beautiful women who are putting it on after getting out there on the beach are not really doing it right. The sunscreen needs to absorb into your skin completely before it can protect your skin adequately, and if you put it on while you're out in the sun you're really just baking it on and you might have already gotten enough sun for it to not do much good. Also, if you plan to get in the water be sure, even if it says the sunscreen is waterproof, that you reapply sunscreen once you're dry again if you still plan to stay out. And if you plan to stay in the water a long period of time, get out every hour or so to reapply. Even if it says waterproof on the bottle it still wears off just from activity, especially if it wasn't given time to be absorbed into the skin. Be warned though, that sunscreen is not a perfect bet when you're out in the sun a lot, especially all at one time. There is a limit to how many UV rays it can block, and if you missed a spot in applying, well that spot will be redder than the rest. Sunscreen is useful and can be highly effective if it's used wisely and not just as a miracle preventative of sunburn.

Now, what if you're already sunburned? Well, be sure to apply a strong SPF35 or SPF40 to the sunburned areas if you have to be exposed to the sun again, even if it's cloudy outside. You can still get sunburn on cloudy days too. But really it would be best if the part that was burnt was not exposed to the sun until it is healed, especially if it is a bad burn. I recommend clothing cover for bad burn areas and sunscreen for the rest if you have to be out; it's not perfect but it helps prevent a more serious burn from developing.

But to treat a burn, you have to understand what sunburn is. Sunburn, the redness that seems to radiate heat and can blister, is the body's way of trying to repair itself. It brings blood to the surface of the skin to try and repair skin cells that have been damaged by the UV rays. UV rays often damage the genetic components in the nuclei of the skin cells making them potential hosts spots for melanoma (skin cancer). The body repairs these cells as quickly as it can to prevent rogue cells that may cause melanoma. So the red you see and the discomfort you feel is your body bringing blood to the surface to repair the cells.

So, knowing this, I can also tell you that putting cold things on it to lessen the burning feeling will not only just make it hurt more later but will inhibit the healing process. It's better to take a hot shower (even though it will hurt) to bring even more blood to the surface so that it can heal faster. Putting something cold on the skin makes the blood vessels constrict and less blood means less repairing of the cells and a longer lasting burn. Secondly, if the burn is too painful or bothersome and you feel you have to cool it down, do it with something that isn't cold. I recommend aloe gels with menthol in them. These are not cold temperature wise but the menthol in them makes it seem cooler on your skin. Menthol does not seem to inhibit the healing process. Also, you might try putting Noxema on the sunburn, if you can stand the strong odor of menthol. This also works, and if you get the one with moisturizers in it, you can also be putting moisture back into the burnt skin. Even if you are using these products to lessen the burning feeling, you also need to be putting a strong, non-alcohol containing, unscented lotion on the burnt areas. The heat from the area also dries it out and can make the skin tight and more uncomfortable to move. Lotion also will prevent excessive peeling. Some peeling may be inevitable, but a lot can be prevented by putting more moisture back into the sun-burnt skin.

If the skin is blistering, more care must be taken. If it is continuing to have water blisters, it is best to leave them be and put something cold on them until the blisters subside, or at least any new ones. Then you can treat the sunburn in the ways above though with probably more care and probably with more menthol gel. Be aware that the advice of a doctor is encouraged and sometimes necessary with larger or more severe burns. Second degree burns are no joke and doctors often have something stronger that can help than the over-the-counter products.

Know also that studies have shown that each time you burn you increase your chances of melanoma. Not all cases of skin cancer are severe, and most are treatable or removable. If you notice an irregularly colored or irregularly shaped freckle or mole on your body, it is best to let your doctor know. Even if it turns out to be harmless, at your yearly physical it would be best to mention it. Though if it is a severely irregular-looking place, you should see a doctor or dermatologist right away. They can biopsy it or look at it and tell you if it is anything to worry about.

And just a note to all those tanning salon addicts, a little tan looks healthy and can be healthy, for UV sunlight helps us make some vitamins in our bodies, but burning is not healthy, so be careful. Also, too much of a tan is not healthy; too much of a tan pretty much turns your skin to leather and causes it to age much more rapidly. Use discretion when tanning. It can be a good idea to get a base tan before being out in the sun a lot, but not too much of that either. Sometimes the fake tans from a bottle can work well for that too, and are less risky. I'm not saying don't go tanning, for I have done it myself, but just to be cautious when you tan in tanning beds and to tan moderately.

Lastly, if you know how to handle the summer sun you'll have a better time. If you are aware of the risks of sunburn and how to manage it then you are better prepared than most. Sunburn can put a damper on anyone's vacation or summer fun, but it can be prevented, avoided, and treated.