Health Topics for Skin Health

Department of Dermatology

Department of Internal Medicine: Allergy

Dermatological Cancers

Sunburn: take care of your skin

Up to 80 percent of all lifetime sun exposure occurs before 18 years of age. It takes between 10 and 20 years for the skin damage to be noticed.

Repeated sun exposure with sunburns or suntans causes:

• wrinkled, saggy, and leathery skin
• brown sunspots
• cataracts and other eye problems and
• skin cancers

The sun's rays are harmful anytime during the entire year, not just during the summer months. Minor sunburn turns the skin pink or red. Symptoms do not begin until 2 to 4 hours after exposure. Within a couple of days the skin may itch. In about 1 week the skin may peel. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause blistering, which indicates a second-degree burn.

Follow these guidelines to ease the discomfort of sunburn:

• Minimize pain by taking cool baths or putting cold wet cloths on the burned area several times a day. Showers may be too painful.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water to replace fluid loss and to prevent dehydration and dizziness. Avoid any alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wines, and "hard" alcohol.
• Aspirin or ibuprofen taken regularly for 2 to 3 days can reduce swelling and discomfort. Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).
• Immediately after the sunburn, apply an over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment. Use a good moisturizing cream, such as Lubriderm, Eucerin, or Nivea, 3 times a day for 2 days to reduce swelling and pain. Use calamine lotion on your skin to lessen itching. Do not use creams or sprays that contain benzocaine. Benzocaine may cause an allergic rash. Do not apply creams that dry out the skin.
• Take antihistamine tablets, such as Benadryl. It may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery or equipment while you are taking this medicine.
• Do not break blisters. Let them open on their own. Apply an antibiotic ointment, like Bacitracin, to any open blisters 2 times a day for 3 days. If you are not sure how severe your blisters are or have concern for infection, check with your healthcare provider. Signs of infection are increased redness or pain, and thick yellow discharge from the blisters.

For safe, healthy fun in the sun, do the following:

• Avoid sun exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Clouds do not protect you from ultraviolet exposure.
• Avoid long periods of direct sun exposure. Altitude, water, sand, and snow increase your exposure to the sun.
• Use a sun block with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher for both UVA and UVB rays. Re-apply every 2 hours. During swimming or strenuous activity, re-apply every 30 minutes and immediately afterwards.
• Apply sunblock 30 minutes before going out into the sun to allow time for the skin to absorb the sunblock.
• Wear sunglasses, which have a 100 percent UV protection.
• Cover skin by wearing long sleeves, pants, and a wide brimmed hat. Dry, dark, tightly woven materials provide more sun protection than wet, light, loosely woven material.
• Be sure to protect young children from the sun.
• If you are taking medications, ask your provider if you should use extra caution in the sun. Examples of medications that may cause problems are NSAIDs, birth control pills, tetracycline, sulfa, anti-depressants, and diuretics.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File SKIN4978.RF2 VRS# 4978 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999-2000, 2002-2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.