What is sunburn?
Sunburn is a red, painful reaction of the skin when it has received too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In people with a fair skin type (types I and II), sunburn occurs after a shorter exposure to the sun than in people with a darker skin type.
How does sunburn develop?
Sunburn is caused by skin damage from the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Although ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is mainly to blame, UVA can also contribute to the burning process.
What does sunburn look like?
Besides redness, sunburn is marked by heat, swelling and pain — the stronger the burn, the more these come to the fore. In the mildest cases only redness occurs. These signs usually appear a few hours after the skin has been burned. If the damage is more extensive, swelling and blisters can also occur, and eventually the skin peels. With very severe sunburn, the massive inflammation can even cause fever, and nausea, palpitations, headache and vomiting also occur.
How is sunburn treated?
- Cooling the skin with wet cloths or a lukewarm shower can relieve the pain.
- Leave any blisters intact as much as possible to prevent bacterial infection from outside.
- For severe pain, a painkiller such as paracetamol can be used.
- To let the skin recover fully, it is important not to expose it to the sun again for about a week.
- With severe sunburn — swelling, blisters, fever, chills, headache and the other signs described above — it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
How can I prevent sunburn?
Avoid strong sun. The sun’s strength is always greatest around midday, so try to avoid the sun then. In Northern Europe that is roughly between 12:00 and 15:00 in summer; in (sub-)tropical areas this period is often considerably longer. Remember that (invisible) UV radiation can reflect off sand or water and reach you even in the shade under a parasol, so always use a sunscreen in sunny weather, even in the shade.
Clothing. Textiles can block a significant part of UV, so wearing T-shirts or blouses on summer days is useful. If you stay in the sun for a long time, it is still wise to apply sunscreen to the skin under clothing. Special fabrics have been developed that shield the skin very well against UV.
Hats and caps. The wider the brim of a hat, the more shade falls on the face and the better the protection. A drawback of caps is that they only shade one side. For people with a (partly) balding head or very short hair, wearing a hat or cap is extra important to protect the scalp.
Let the skin get used to the sun. When the skin is gradually accustomed to sunlight, it can build up a pigment layer that shields the cells — the process we know as tanning.
Apply sunscreen. Applying sunscreen is also an effective way to protect the skin against UV. Every sunscreen gives a certain degree of protection, stated on the packaging as the Sun Protection Factor (SPF).
When to see a doctor
See a doctor for severe sunburn with extensive blistering, swelling, fever, chills, headache, nausea or vomiting, or if sunburn covers a large area, especially in a child.