Sunburn

From ArticleWorld

A sunburn is a radiation burn caused by overexposure to the UV radiation provided by the sun, welding arcs or tanning beds. This type of burn occurs when the skins protective mechanisms are breached so that the deeper layers of the skin are damaged.

Mechanism

The melanin in the epidermal (outer) layer of the skin causes the dark pigmentation of the skin and, if not in sufficient amounts, sun damage can result. This is why darker-skinned individuals are less able to receive a sunburn than pale-skinned people. Those who get sunburn often do not feel or notice its full effect until 2-6 hours after exposure. Pain can continue for up to 3 days post-exposure. The skin commonly peels its outer layer in 3-8 days.

First degree skin burns from the sun involve only the epidermal and upper dermal areas and no obvious blister formation is seen. Second degree burns are more serious and reveal themselves with at least a few blistered areas. Scarring can result in serious burns.

Risk

Areas of the world where the sun is at its most intensity, such as near the equator, are high risk areas for sunburn. Ozone in the earth’s atmosphere filters out some UV radiation; however, in areas where the ozone layer is thinner (such as areas in the southern hemisphere), less UVA and UVB radiation is filtered out, causing an increased risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Some medications carry the risk of photosensitivity. Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, often used in longterm acne treatment, have photosensitive properties. Birth control pills and some tranquilizers can have this effect as well.

Those with more melanin in their skin have a lesser risk of sunburn. Melanin can be acquired in fair-skinned people by progressively increasing the exposure to the sun. In addition, the use of topically-applied protective sunblocking agents will often protect one from the sun for a period of time before it needs to be reapplied.

Treatment

Sunburn can generally not be prevented once exposure occurs. Keeping the skin moist and cool helps ease the pain as does the use of pain medication. Some gels can cool the skin and keep the burning process from progressing. In severe cases, doctors prescribe a type of cortisone as a cream or by oral administration that tempers the body’s overreaction to the burn and to reduce pain.