The experience of sunburn can be a very efficient (i.e. painful)
reminder to heed adequate protection on future occasions. However more
importantly, it should be a reminder of the long-term effects of sun
exposure on our bodies and health - which can include aging of the skin
and skin cancer.
In order to more fully understand these
consequences, let's take a look at exactly what sunburn is, its symptoms
and its effect on the body.
Sunburn results when the amount of
exposure to the sun, or other ultraviolet light source (e.g. tanning
lamps and welding arcs etc.), exceeds the ability of the body's
protective pigment, melanin, to protect the skin. Melanin content varies
greatly, but in general darker skinned people have more melanin than
lighter skinned. (Although fairer skinned people are generally more
prone to getting sunburn than darker skinned people, this certainly does
not exclude the latter from risk.)
Sunburn destroys cells in the
outer layer of the skin, damaging tiny blood vessels underneath. Burns
deeper into the skin's layers also damage elastic fibers in the skin,
which over time and with repeated sun overexposure, can result in the
appearance of yellowish, wrinkled skin.
The damage to skin cells
from UV exposure (either sunlight or tanning lamps etc.) can also
include damage to their DNA. It's this repeated DNA damage, which can
lead to a cell becoming cancerous. With the incidence of skin cancer
rising dangerously in many parts of the world, and with its ability to
develop and establish itself in the body 'long' before external signs
are detected, -- paying attention to this aspect of sun exposure and
sunburn should certainly not be ignored if we are serious about
preserving our health.
Now while it may be easier to ignore the
effects of sunburn occurring at a cellular level, ignoring the external
symptoms of sunburn in the days immediately following such exposure is
entirely another matter.
While sunburn is usually not immediately
obvious, skin discoloration (ranging from slightly pink to severely red
or even purplish) will initially appear from 1 - 24 hours after
exposure. Although pain is usually worst 6 - 48 hours afterward, the
burn can continue to develop for 24 - 72 hours after the incident. Where
there is skin peeling, this generally occurs 3 - 8 days after the burn
occurs.
While minor sunburns typically cause nothing more than
warm/hot skin, slight redness, and tenderness to the affected area, --
in more serious cases, extreme redness, swelling and blistering can
occur. These blisters filled with fluid may itch and eventually break.
This can then cause peeling of the skin, exposing an even tenderer layer
of skin underneath.
Severe sunburn can cause very red, blistered
skin but can also be accompanied by fever, chills, nausea (in some cases
vomiting), and dehydration. In instances of extreme sunburn where the
pain is debilitating, medical treatment may be required.
While the
immediate effects of sunburn can certainly be painful and cause
discomfort, the real deterrent to UV overexposure should be the
potential damage to your long-term health - including the risk of
premature aging of the skin along with skin cancer.
Don't let
sunburn and sun overexposure kill your chances of enjoying youthful
skin, and a healthy body. Remember, the easiest way to treat sunburn
will always be to avoid it in the first place!
