What helps against sunburn?
Who doesn't enjoy soaking up the sun when they're on holiday, having a barbecue in the park or relaxing on the balcony? Feeling the warm rays on their skin? Sunbathing is marvellous, but the consequences can be painful: sunburn.
The skin is red, taut, and hurts when you touch it. Sometimes it itches too. Sunburn is really unpleasant. And not only that: every sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Applying sunscreen is therefore a must before going outside, particularly in summer. And although everybody knows this, a lot of people still get sunburnt every year.
What is sunburn exactly?
Too much exposure to the sun burns the skin. But how much is "too much"? This varies, because the time a person's skin takes to burn depends on their individual skin type, the intensity of the sun and any medication they may be taking.
Sunburn is no different from a burn caused by fire or any other form of heat that comes into contact with the skin. There are three degrees of severity:
- First degree: mild sunburn - the skin parts affected are red and hot, feel taut and are often also slightly swollen. The sunburn burns and itches.
- Second degree: blisters form on the skin. Later on, the skin begins to peel.
- Third degree: severe burns - the outermost layers of skin are destroyed and become detached. Scarring may occur.
The first symptoms appear about six to eight hours after you have been in the sun. They reach their peak about 24-36 hours later and disappear completely within one or two weeks depending on the severity of the sunburn.
What helps against sunburn?
Sometimes it happens no matter how careful you are. In this case, the first thing to do is to head for the shade right away! What is more, you should stay there and avoid any exposure to the sun until the sunburn has completely healed.
Help for mild sunburn
In cases of mild sunburn, it is usually enough to cool the places affected - but not with ice or cool packs. These cool the skin too much. Damp cloths, burn gels from the pharmacy or after-sun products are more suitable.
Soothing lotions containing dexpanthenol or calendula and cooling aloe vera lotions or gels may also alleviate the discomfort. If necessary, a doctor can prescribe an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid ("cortisone") in the form of a cream or lotion that you can apply topically.
It also helps to drink plenty of fluids. Sunburn causes the skin to lose a lot of moisture.
Help for second and third-degree sunburn
If blisters appear on the sunburnt area, this is a sign that you need to see a doctor. Under no circumstances should you burst the blisters yourself, because they could become inflamed. The doctor can also prescribe painkillers if the pain is severe.
Third-degree sunburn is usually treated in hospital, because there is a high risk of infection and the patient may need infusions to replace the large amount of fluid lost.
Warning: it is also vital that you see a doctor if you are running a temperature and have a severe headache, since these could be symptoms of heatstroke or sunstroke.
Long-term damage after sunburn
Every sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer. UV radiation can cause permanent changes in the DNA of your skin cells, which can cause them to become abnormal even after many years have passed.
Frequent sunbathing also leaves visible traces: the skin ages more quickly and loses its elasticity. Wrinkles and 'age spots' are the result. The pores of the skin also become enlarged and prone to blackheads.
