Sunburn is a form of radiation burn to the skin, primarily resulting from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. When skin cells absorb excessive UV radiation, it triggers an inflammatory response that damages the skin’s outermost layers. While often perceived as a minor inconvenience, sunburns can vary significantly in their severity, leading to a spectrum of health implications.
Understanding Sunburn Severity
Sunburn severity is categorized into first, second, and, rarely, third degrees, based on the depth of skin damage. A first-degree sunburn affects only the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. Symptoms include redness, mild swelling, and tenderness, with the skin feeling warm to the touch. This type of burn generally heals within a few days to a week, often accompanied by peeling as the body sheds damaged cells.
Second-degree sunburns extend deeper, damaging both the epidermis and the underlying dermis. These burns are characterized by intense redness, more significant swelling, and the development of fluid-filled blisters. The skin may appear wet or shiny, and the pain is typically more pronounced. Healing for a second-degree sunburn can take several weeks; do not pop blisters to prevent infection.
Third-degree sunburns are exceedingly uncommon from sun exposure, usually resulting from other types of burns like chemical or fire incidents. This severe type damages all skin layers, including the fat layer, and can destroy nerve endings, potentially leading to numbness.
Immediate Health Concerns
Severe sunburns can trigger immediate health concerns, indicating a widespread systemic reaction. Extensive blistering, particularly over large body areas, signifies deeper skin damage and a higher risk of complications. Severe pain, peaking 24 to 36 hours after exposure, is common, often accompanied by significant swelling.
Systemic symptoms include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and fatigue. These signs suggest an intense inflammatory response, sometimes called “sun poisoning,” a descriptive term rather than a medical diagnosis. Dehydration is a concern, as damaged skin loses moisture, and prolonged heat exposure can exacerbate fluid loss. Dizziness or faintness can result from dehydration or the body’s reaction to the burn.
Long-Term Health Risks
Sunburn’s consequences extend beyond immediate discomfort, impacting long-term skin health. Repeated sunburns, even mild ones, accelerate skin aging (photoaging). This manifests as deep wrinkles, dry, rough skin, freckles, and dark spots (solar lentigines). UV radiation weakens connective tissues, reducing skin strength and elasticity over time.
Sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer. Even a single blistering sunburn, particularly during childhood or adolescence, can more than double the chances of developing melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Sunburns also contribute to non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. UV rays damage skin cell DNA, which can accumulate over time, potentially altering tumor-suppressing genes and increasing cancer risk.
Eyes are also susceptible to UV damage from sun exposure. Prolonged exposure can lead to photokeratitis, a painful inflammation of the cornea, similar to a sunburn of the eye. Over time, cumulative UV exposure can contribute to cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens that can impair vision. Protecting eyes with UV-blocking eyewear is important to mitigate these risks.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many sunburns can be managed with home care, certain signs indicate a need for professional medical evaluation. Extensive blistering, particularly if blisters cover a large portion of the body or appear on sensitive areas like the face, hands, or genitals, warrants medical attention.
Signs of infection, such as increasing pain, red streaks spreading from the burned area, pus, or yellowing blisters, require prompt medical assessment. Severe pain not relieved by over-the-counter medication, or pain accompanied by a high fever (over 102°F or 39°C), chills, confusion, or fainting, signals a serious condition. Symptoms of dehydration, including dizziness, dry mouth, reduced urination, or extreme thirst, necessitate medical care. Any sunburn in a baby younger than one year old should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.