Sunburn (burn)

If you burn, you will get a red painful reaction on the skin. This occurs when the skin has received too much UV radiation (ultraviolet). People with a light skin type are more likely to burn than people with a dark skin type.

Sunburn

• How does it arise?
• Gradations
• Therapy
• Types of UV radiation
• How can you prevent it?
• Skin types

How does it arise?

If you lie in the sun for too long, you are exposed to too much UV radiation. It often feels wonderful and it is especially nice with a little breeze. After a few hours you will feel that your skin is burning and red. Not everyone knows that burning is very bad for the body. Burning also accelerates the aging of the skin, you get wrinkles and it increases the risk of skin cancer.

Gradations

• 1st degree burn : Your skin is slightly red and disappears after 3 days without peeling.
• 2nd degree burn : Your skin is fiery red and disappears after 3 days with peeling.
• 3rd degree burn : You have red-blue and painful skin that will peel after 4 days.
• 4th degree burn : Your skin is burned so badly that blisters appear on the skin, after 4 days the skin will peel completely.

The advice is to contact a doctor beyond the 3rd degree burn!

Therapy

For 1st and 2nd degree burns it is best to use after sun or lotion. If you start to feel pain, you can take paracetamol and, if it is itchy, a cooling ointment. For 3rd and 4th degree burns, take a cold shower of 10 to 15 minutes, drink 2 to 3 liters of water per day and in case of pain you can always take paracetamol.

Types of UV radiation

• UV-C : This is the most powerful UV radiation, it does not reach the earth’s surface.
• UV-B : This radiation is largely blocked by the atmosphere. UV-B is the biggest cause of sunburn and skin cancer.
• UV-A : Penetrates the earth’s surface very easily and causes the least damage. At a high dose of UV-A it can lead to sunburn and skin cancer.

How can you prevent it?

• Don’t lie in the sun for too long if your skin is not yet used to it. For example, go for 20 minutes at first and then build up slowly.
• If you think you’re going to get sunburned, put on a t-shirt.
• The sun’s rays are strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Water, snow and beach reflect UV rays and therefore cause you to burn more quickly.
• Keep babies out of the sun. Place them under a parasol and give them a sun hat.
• It is important to apply sunscreen every 2 hours. The higher the protection factor you apply, the longer you can stay in the sun without burning. After children have gone swimming, apply again.
• If you are hypersensitive to sunlight, you can use ‘sun blocker’. This cream provides extra protection against the sun.

Skin types

See what skin type you have in the skin types table

read more

• Heat stroke (heliosis)