Second Degree Sunburn
Tips for Treating Second Degree Sunburn
When someone is exposed to the sun for too long, they can get a first or second degree sunburn. The skin damage from sunburn is caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun when sun block isn’t used, or an insufficient amount is used.
Of course most people do understand that they can get sunburn if they do not use any protection against the UV rays. Unfortunately it is not always possible to protect yourself from the sun, plus there are times when you may receive a first or second degree sunburn on a cloudy day, when you did not think the UV rays were too bad.
There are some people that may be more at risk from UV rays than others. People who have lighter skin, hair and eye coloring are more at risk from being burned by the sun than those who are darker. In addition, if you someone has freckles, they will tend to burn easily. It is especially important for people who fall in one of these risk categories to be sure to use sunscreen at anytime they are exposed to the sun.
The most frequent sunburn that people get are first degree burns; with this type of sunburn there will be a discoloration of the skin and some tenderness. When you get this type of sunburn you may not even realize it at first, as the symptoms can take several hours to develop. With a first degree sunburn the symptoms will disappear within a few days.
The second degree sunburn is far more serious, and the skin damage associated with this type of burn can have lasting damage. The symptoms of this sunburn will be obvious within a short period of time after the burn occurs. With the second degree sunburn, there will be heat felt radiating from the skin, plus the skin will be very red. The pain from the skin damage will be constant, and not just when you touch the skin, in addition to these symptoms you may not some swelling in the area that was burned, and blisters may develop.
The reason that the second degree sunburn is more serious, as well as painful is because the burn goes deeper, to the nerve endings. If the burn is sever, some addition symptoms that you may experience include, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. You will also have to be careful that a secondary infection does not develop. In situations where the second degree sunburn is severe enough to cause these types of symptoms, hospitalization may be required.
If a second degree sunburn isn’t too serious, you might be able to treat it at home. The first thing you will want to do is to cool the area of the skin that is burned; if this is a small area you can use a cold compress, if it is a large area of the body you can take a cool bath to cool the skin. It is also a good idea to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and if you do take any pain medication, you will want to take an anti-inflammatory.
If blisters develop you will not want to pop them, or interfere with them in any way. Let the blisters heal naturally.
Of course it is always best to avoid the second degree sunburn in the first place. The protect yourself; always use the appropriate sunscreen for your skin type, preferably a total sun block. Make sure that you are applying it frequently enough, and limit the time you spend in the sun, if possible.