Most people
love the sun, the beach, and the pool--it usually means a warm day
well-spent. We love the way our skin
glows with a tan or a little pink hue.
The sun is important to our bodies. It enhances mood, and provides
essential vitamins that the body needs.
In other words, the sun is our friend; however, this friend has its
limits.
Sun Tans
Once the
initial burn fades, you are left with a tan.
You may look in the mirror and think how great it looks. Just be glad
that mirror is not a microscope. You would not think that tan looked so good
after all. Many people don’t realize
they are over-tanning. Their skin is dry, cracked, and aged well beyond its
actual years. There are other ways to
achieve that golden glow of the skin, or a little pink glow on the cheeks, and
they won't ruin your skin in the process.
Sun Burns
Most sun burns
are minor and can be treated at home using certain remedies. Sunburn can be very serious, and the best
treatment is prevention. With protective
lotions and garments now available, no one should have to suffer the pain of dangerous
sunburn. Aside from the fact that it
hurts, it increases your chance of developing skin cancer, and prematurely ages
your skin.
Levels of Sunburns
1. A
slight pink glow. No pain involved, just slight warmth to skin
that is pink. This should fade within two
days and should not cause any pain.
2. A
little red, and slight discomfort. Some pain is involved, and it may hurt to lay
down on a sunburned area. To the touch, there is significant warmth along with
soreness. This should begin to subside
in pain within 4-5 days, followed by blisters that may break open and peel away
skin layers. This can create itching to
the point of being uncomfortable; however you have to watch scratching the open
skin, which could result in an infection.
3. Bright
red and major discomfort. There will be a lot of pain involved, to the
point you are kicking yourself for allowing this to happen. You can't put any pressure on those burned
areas, which means no laying down in bed, so very little sleep. On this one you would kick yourself for
letting it happen, but you are in too much pain to do so. This may require medical attention, however you can try over the counter pain
medications and topical numbing sprays.
Seek medical attention if you develop a feeling, suffer nausea, or pain
is unbearable.
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Symptoms of Sun Poison
·
Extreme skin redness and blistering- this may not require medical
attention, providing other symptoms is not present.
·
Pain & Tingling- if skin alternates between extreme
pain, and a numbness or tingling feeling, this would indicate a need for
medical attention.
·
Swelling- red skin may appear different;
however, if you notice puffiness on the areas of the sunburn, it's time to see
a health care provider.
·
Headache- for a mild headache, and over the
counter medication may do the trick, however, if the headache is severe or last
more than a couple hours, it's time to seek medical attention.
·
Fever & chills- this could indicate an infection;
you should seek medical care right away.
·
Nausea- some people may experience nausea
from the discomfort of the burn, however, if it is followed by vomiting, or
last more than 24 hours call your doctor.
·
Dizziness- this could be a warning sign of a
serious condition and you should seek medical care.
·
Dehydration- if you are unable to consume
fluids seek medical attention, sunburns can make dehydration more intense.
Sunburns can
cause sun poison, which is essentially a very severe case of sunburn. The best way to avoid sun poisoning is to
protect your skin when in the sun.
Tips to Soothe Sunburn
1. Place a cool compress on the
skin. A damp towel will work, however, for
long relief, fill a ziplock bag with cool water and place on the skin.
2. Take a long cool shower or
bath. Add 1 cup cider vintages to a bath
to balance the PH and soothe sunburned skin.
3. Soak in an oatmeal bath to soothe
burned skin
4. Use lotions that contain aloe Vera
to soothe and moisturizer skin. Look for
one with lidocaine, which will help numb pain.
Tanning Beds
Think tanning
beds are safer than the sun? Think
again. There is no proof they are safer
than the sun. Tanning beds come with risks just as being in the sun for extreme
periods of time.
Safe in the Sun
Sure, you can
still enjoy time outdoors, just be smart about it. There are special garments now that are made
to reflect UV rays. Always wear a hat to
protect your head, and cover eyes with sunglasses. Use a sun block of at least SPF 45, and apply
per label directions to protect skin.
Avoiding peak UV times is a good idea, 10-3 is when you are most likely
to burn. Enjoy the outdoors, just use
precautions to avoid a sunburn, pain and a higher risk of skin cancer.
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