Australians love their sun and we tend to sport the tan lines to prove it. However, sunburn can hurt you in more ways than one. A sunburn from UV exposure can appear within hours and continue to develop over 1 to 3 days. Sunburn is an irreversible damage to the skin, and it is cumulative. So, every time you get sunburnt you are increasing the risk of skin cancers and melanoma.
At Victorian Medical Services we put together First Aid tips and tricks to help you this summer keeping your skin damage-free.
Sunburn Damage
There are short term and long term effects of sunburn.
Short term, the body will experience redness and discomfort, but the long term effects of repeated bouts of sunburn can include premature wrinkling and an increased risk of skin cancer and melanoma.
Symptoms of severe sunburn
Common symptoms that can help you to ascertain the severity of a sunburn:
- dizziness and altered states of consciousness
- heatstroke
- fever
- headache
- infection or swelling
- blistering and pain
- dehydration
- nausea and vomiting
If you have severe sunburn, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Treatment
Sunburn treatment needs to focus on cooling down and rehydrating. Here 5 simple steps to cooling down any sunburn:
1. Act fast to cool it down. Move out of the sun and into the shade, or indoors, and start cooling your skin and body temperature with a cold compress or cool water. Do not use any soap as it may irritate the skin.
2. Moisturise the whilst its damp. Do not wait for your skin to dry out. This treatment needs to be about hydrating. If the sunburn is painful use a spray-on sunburn soothing application. If the sunburn is not too painful, you can use a standard moisturiser.
3. Decrease inflammation. Do not be scared to take anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or seek advice from your pharmacist about anti-inflammatory options.
4. Replenish your fluids.Drink plenty of water as being in the sun may cause dehydration.
5. Call a doctor if blisters cover more than 20% of your body, as this means your sunburn is severe.
Prevention & Protection
Here are 5 key prevention and protection tips that are easy to remember:
- Slip – on sun-protective clothing. Ensure it covers as much skin as possible.
- Slop – on SPF 30+ or higher, water-resistant sunscreen. Apply 20 minutes before going outdoors, and reapply every 2 hours.
- Slap – on a broad brimmed hat to protect your face, head, neck, and ears.
- Seek – Shade whenever possible
- Slide – on some shades
