As beneficial as sunlight is for our health and general well-being, too much UV radiation can stress the skin and cause painful damage. Children and fair-skinned individuals who spend time in the sun without adequate UV protection are particularly susceptible to sunburn.
Sunburn, also referred to by medical professionals as Dermatitis solaris, is an acute inflammation of the epidermis, accompanied by visible redness, itching, and burning. The severity of skin damage depends on the duration and intensity of sun exposure, as well as the individual’s skin type. Three degrees of severity are distinguished:
In cases of mild sunburn, the affected skin areas are red and feel warm. The skin usually burns, itches, and feels tight.
In addition to redness, itching, and burning, blistering occurs.
The outermost layer of skin peels off in the affected areas.
In cases of extensive second or third-degree sunburn, affected individuals often also suffer from headaches, nausea, and fever. To prevent a bacterial infection from compounding the discomfort, blisters must not be opened.
Sunburn is particularly insidious because symptoms often only appear six to eight hours after sun exposure. Discomfort usually peaks after 24 to 36 hours, and it can take one to two weeks for the skin damage to fully subside.
Children are particularly susceptible to sunburn, as their skin is significantly more sensitive than that of adults. The face, arms, and legs are usually affected by the burning and itching redness.
People with very fair skin and reddish-blonde hair, classified as skin type I, are also particularly at risk. The skin’s natural protection time – the period during which one can stay in the sun unprotected – is only five to ten minutes for this skin type.
Certain body parts react more sensitively to too much sun than others: Sunburn occurs more frequently and severely on the thighs, abdomen, back, and buttocks, which are less often exposed to UV radiation, than on sun-accustomed hands and arms. The lip area is also particularly sensitive.
Frequent sunburn significantly contributes to faster skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancer. Therefore, preventive measures are of great importance:
If, despite all precautions, you still get sunburned, milder cases can be treated at home. To relieve redness, burning, and itching, it helps to cool the affected skin areas with moist, cold compresses.
Additionally, applying a skin-soothing ointment is beneficial. With high-quality natural ingredients, ilon Woundcare can activate the skin’s self-healing powers. Apply a thin layer of the ointment several times a day to the affected skin areas and gently massage it in. This medicinal skin care product is well-tolerated and therefore also suitable for use in children.
For extensive sunburn or severe symptoms with blistering and intense pain, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Depending on the intensity of the burn, oral medications may be prescribed in addition to topical applications. A third-degree sunburn is generally treated in a hospital.
A doctor should also be contacted if severe headaches, nausea, and fever occur in addition to skin damage. These symptoms could indicate heatstroke or sunstroke.
For many people, the joy of the first sunbath after the dark winter months quickly fades. Around 20 percent of the population suffers from a sun allergy, especially from March to June. In most cases, this is not an allergy in the true sense, but rather Polymorphous Light Eruption. The sun-unaccustomed skin reacts sensitively to UV-A radiation with inflammatory symptoms such as redness, pustules, or blisters, and severe itching. Over the course of the summer, a habituation effect generally sets in – the unpleasant skin reactions diminish or disappear completely.
At the first signs of a sun allergy, one should immediately seek shade and avoid sun exposure in the following days. The discomfort can be alleviated with cooling compresses, and anti-inflammatory ointments from the pharmacy can also help.
Yes, this is indeed possible. A sun allergy, also known as polymorphic light eruption, is triggered by UV-A radiation, which can also pass through conventional window glass. Therefore, the skin can be exposed to UV-A light even in a car or in glazed spaces, such as a conservatory.
The skin’s natural protection time depends on skin type. According to the classification by the US dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick from 1975, there are six different skin types, of which the following four are predominantly found in Europe:
The natural protection times stated are approximate guideline values. Spending time in and around water can reduce the skin’s natural protection time.
DE