What Happens to Your Skin When You Get Sunburned?
Sunburn occurs when ultraviolet radiation damages cells in the skin.
The body’s inflammatory response then causes many of the familiar symptoms—redness, heat, swelling and soreness.
Repeated or excessive UV exposure can cause cumulative skin damage and increases the risk of skin cancer.
This is why sunburn shouldn’t simply be viewed as an inconvenience of summer. Protecting your skin is an important part of looking after your long-term health.
Clinical Features of Sunburn
Sunburns are classified based on severity of skin damage and accordingly to the signs and symptoms.
First degree burn – damage to your skin on outer layer and the symptoms we find are redness, tenderness/ pain, blisters, swelling, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea.
In 2nd degree burn – the damage is to your inner layer of skin that is dermis especially. This causes signs like extremely red skin blistering and swelling pain fever headache muscle cramps, discolouration.
3rd degree burns – severe damage to all layers of skin including the fatty layer beneath the skin and may destroy fat beneath which shows symptoms like numb skin, white or dull skin colour and all above system acute illness symptoms including shock or heat stroke.
There are also various types of sun allergies – Actinic prurigo , photo allergic reactions , polymorphic light eruptions , solar urticaria – allergy that produces hives .
Their symptoms include pain blisters or hives redness, itching ,tiny bumps that merge out as raised patches ,crusting scaling or bleeding.
How to Care for Sunburned Skin
If you do get sunburned, the first priority is to get out of the sun and prevent further exposure.
Simple measures that may help include:
- Cooling the skin with a cool bath or shower.
- Drinking plenty of fluids.
- Wearing loose, comfortable clothing.
- Keeping the affected skin out of direct sunlight while it heals.
- Using appropriate moisturising or after-sun products if they feel soothing.
- Avoiding picking or peeling damaged skin.
Do not deliberately expose already sunburned skin to more sunlight in an attempt to “toughen” it.
If the burn is extensive, severely painful, blistered or accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, confusion or significant dehydration, seek appropriate medical advice.
Homeopathic management
Homoeopathy case taking works is carried out in differetn way thatn conventional medicine case taking.
In homeopathic case taking the homeopath tries to treat not just presenting symptoms but focuses on the patient as a whole.
The homeopath will ask questions which includes complete medical history of patient, family history, presenting symptoms, possible positive factors, underlying pathology, physical and mental constitution, also susceptibility and the genetic tendencies/inheritance within the family.
A few Homeopathic Remedies used for Sunburn
Below are some important homoeopathic remedies proved to be very helpful in supporting sunburn and sun allergy.
Apis mellifica – A very good remedy where bones are accompanied with stinging type of pain with burning itching pink swollen patches , improved by cold compresses. Complain of sensitivity to heat and touch. This is an important remedy for sunburn with water filled blisters and stinging pain.
Cantharis – excellent remedy for burns with blisters. Especially when circular eruptions which are sensitive to touch. Eruptions may turn black later with sharp pain and burning where cold application gives relief. Hot bright red rash, allergies accompanied by fever.
Belladona – Burns and redness predominates .affected parts get swollen, smooth skin gets dry, hot and sensitive to touch this are the key features. It is the main remedy used for red, painful, hot and swollen skin.
Sulphur – Violent burning and itching worse by bathing and heat, skin turns red easily and prone to various skin disorders and allergies, intolerance to heat . Skin looks unhealthy and dry where strong urge for scratching which causes burning. Itching worse at night.
Urticaria urens – Burns of initial stage where redness stinking pain itching are the primary symptoms this remedy works good. Stinging and prickly sensation of pain. It can also help heal sun allergies with a stinging or prickly feeling or can relieve itching that is aggravated by cold and water.
Natrum muriaticum – Good remedy in cases of sun allergy, urticaria , acne And various chronic skin disorders. Symptoms are worse at seaside.
Gelsemium– On exposure to sun, there is extreme reddish discolouration of face and neck. Skin is hot and dry. Sensation of itching all over the body. Concomitant symptoms in Gelsemium include cold hands and feet , Thirstlessness, gastric and nervous complaints. Blood rushes to the head, heavy drooping eyelids with diplopia (seeing in double). Remedy works well in chronic solar dermatitis (inflammed – red, swollen skin) .
Arnica – Appearance of the Arnica skin is dry, red, oedematous. On exposure to sun, one gets red spots especially on the arms and legs. There is intense breaking or itching which moved from place to place after scratching. There is a tendency for the patient to develop very sore acne or crops of small boils.