As a kid, most people have experienced going to a water park or beach to swim on a hot, sunny day. The thought of the cool water on the skin has always been relaxing to most people. There are many fun activities to do under the sun, such as swimming, beach volleyball and even just getting a golden tan while reading and drinking cold shakes. However, it is fairly common for people to forget to regularly put sunblock to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays. As a result, sunburn occurs.

Sunburn is the reddening of the skin as a result of overexposure to the sun. It is a type of radiation burn that alters the living tissue of the skin. This is usually derived from overexposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. The sun’s rays are most intense between 11AM and 3PM. There are other sources of UV rays including tanning beds and phototherapy lamps. Most of the time, sunburns are first-degree burns of the outer layer of the skin.

Sunburn usually appears within several hours after exposure to the sun, with signs and symptoms worsening within the next few hours. Several signs and symptoms include pinkness or redness of the skin, skin that feels warm or hot to touch, pain or tenderness, swelling, blisters with plasma which may break, and in cases of severe sunburn, fever, headache and fatigue, called sun poisoning. However, blisters may indicate second-degree burns. No part of the body is exempted from too much sun exposure.

It usually takes a few days or more to disappear, depending on the severity. When the skin begins to heal itself by peeling the top layer of the damaged skin, the skin may have a temporary irregular color and pattern. Although the symptoms disappear, the damage to the skin is oftentimes permanent and may lead to serious lifelong health effects.

Intense sun exposure resulting to sunburn intensifies the susceptibility to certain complications and other-associated skin diseases, including dry, wrinkled skin, liver spots, actinic keratosis and skin cancer, as well as melanoma.

When one gets sunburn, advise the person to take frequent cool shower or bath or placing cool cloths over the affected area. If blisters occur, dry, sterile bandages should be applied to prevent risks for infection. Applying soothing lotions that contain Aloe Vera may help alleviate pain. Topical steroids may also help ease swelling and pain. It is recommended to drink lots of non-caffeinated fluids. Seek medical advice before taking and any over-the-counter medications.

Sunburn is preventable. It is always important to protect the skin every time there is a chance of sun exposure, even on cloudy days, as sunlight can still get through the clouds and cause damage to the skin. Doctors recommend generous application of sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every after a two hours especially after prolonged sun exposure. It is also recommended to wear protective clothing such as hats.

First aid training can teach home care remedies for sunburn. By finishing a course on first aid, proper treatment for different kinds of burns may be learned. Although sunburns are not medical emergencies, they pose serious pain and potential harm to anyone exposed to the harmful rays on the sun.

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Degrees of Burns

• First-degree – These are not very serious burns and only outer layer of the skin is burned that too not very deeply. Normally the skin or the burned area gets red; there is some swelling and minor pain. They are usually healed in 2 to 3 days.
• Second-degree – These can be somewhat serious burns and happen when the outer layer of the skin is completely burned as well as the second layer of the skin is burned to some extent. Such burns can result in development of blisters, skin get pretty reddened and becomes splotchy which is accompanied by swelling and severe pain. They 2 to 3 weeks to heal.
• Third-degree – These are major burns and are often very serious. Third-degree burns cause all the layers of skin to burn and also result in permanent damage to tissue. Moreover, fat, muscles and even the bones can get affected. The burned area becomes white or charred. Normally such burns don’t cause much pain because the nerves as well as the tissue in the skin are damaged. They take a long time to heal which can be from many weeks to months.

First Aid Tips for Burns video

Providing First Aid for Minor Burns

This includes first and second degree burns which cover area of 3 inches only. Following steps should be taken:

• Cool the burned area – As understood it is important to cool the burned area, so keep the area under cool running water for some time (not cold water!) or till the pain lessens. If it isn’t possible then immerse the burned area in cool water, sometimes you can also use cold compresses. Cooling will not cause swelling, but don’t use ice.
• Dress the burn – It is important to cover the burned area but don’t use cotton or any such material that might get stuck in the wound. Use sterile gauze bandage and don’t apply too much pressure while wrapping. Bandaging will lessen the pain and protect blistered skin.
• Pain killers – You can also take over-the-counter pain killers to reduce the pain. However, it is not suggested for children or 2 years or below.

Providing First Aid for Minor Burns

These are third-degree burns and require immediate medical attention, therefore call the paramedics right away and in the meanwhile follow these steps:

• It is better not to remove burned clothes of the victim.
• You should not put large or severe burns in cold water.
• Check for different circulation signs and if you don’t find them, then perform a CPR right away.
• Use clean, cool and moist cloth to cover the burns.

These are some of the first aid tips for burns.

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Sunburns can be caused by the UV rays of the sun, areas at high altitudes and tanning beds and are often prone to occur in fair haired, light skinned people, prior to skin illnesses and infections like herpes or porphyria. Certain medications such as antibiotics and anti-psoriatic drugs may also risk to suffering from sunburns.

Symptoms

• Redness of the affected area
• Pain
• Irritation
• Swelling
• Blisters
• Burning sensation
• Skin shedding
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Fever and flu-like symptoms
• Infection
• In severe cases, shock or death may even occur

Treatment

In case of sunburn, follow these steps:

1. Take a bath in cool water or apply a clean and moist, cool cloth on your body.
2. Apply aloe vera-based creams, gels and moisturizers regularly.
3. Do not puncture blisters. If blisters rupture on their own, do not peel them off to prevent infection; simply apply an antibiotic topical ointment on the blistered area.
4. To alleviate pain, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. Take caution while giving children and teenagers aspirin, especially if they are suffering from chicken pox or other forms of infections. Do NOT give aspirin to children and teenagers suffering from flu-like symptoms, infections or chickenpox. Consult your doctor for further assistance on the matter.
5. Refrain from using home remedies such as toothpaste, egg whites, butter or petroleum jelly on burnt areas as they may slow down the healing process and make the burn worse.
6. Visit your doctor if the following symptoms arise:

• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Severe dehydration
• Loss of consciousness
• If sunburn is accompanied with other medical complications

Prevention

• Keep your skin covered with light clothes as much as possible when you are out in the sun. Wear hats, long sleeved shirts, long pants etc.
• Try to avoid overexposure and avoid prolonged tanning.
• Apply sunscreen with a suitable SPF regularly to prevent sunburn when you are out in the sun. Sunscreens are to be applied after every 3 hours for increased effectiveness.
• Avoid the usage of tanning beds.

Learn More

To learn more about sunburns and other burns, including chemical and 3rd degree burns enrol into a St Mark James first aid class. Classes can be found at our “locations” page. Training partners are located throughout Canada in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax, Windsor, Red Deer, Saskatoon and Regina.

Video Related to Sunburns

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