Melanin is designed to protect skin, and how much a person produces depends on genetics , according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. When people who produce less melanin are overexposed to UV rays, it causes damage to the DNA in the upper layers of skin cells—resulting in a radiation burn, known as sunburn.
Not everybody responds in the same way to sun exposure. In general, people with fair or light skin, freckles, or red or fair hair are more susceptible to severe sunburn, according to the American Cancer Society. But all skin types, from light to dark, are vulnerable to UV damage. The damage can occur on very sunny days as well as overcast days, because UV light penetrates cloud coverage.
How long a sunburn lasts depends on how severe the burn is, Connecticut-based dermatologist Rhonda Q. Klein , MD, tells Health. Pain from a sunburn usually starts within two to six hours of sun overexposure and peaks at about 24 hours. If you have a more serious sunburn, the skin may blister and peel. Blisters typically show up between six and 24 hours after exposure to the sun, but sometimes it takes longer for them to appear. Peeling of the skin is part of the healing process after a sunburn, and it tends to start after about three days.
It should stop when the skin is fully healed, which can take several weeks in cases of severe sunburn. While the peeling occurs, resist the temptation to pick at it, which can cause further damage, says Dr.
Sunburn symptoms vary depending on the severity of the damage. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Sunburn is a skin injury caused by heat and radiation. A first-degree burn affects the top layer of the skin and causes redness, slight tenderness, and may cause light peeling of the skin within 24 to 48 hours after injury.
A more serious sunburn , known as a second-degree burn, causes damage deeper in the skin. This type of burn may cause blisters to form and takes longer to heal. The blisters usually appear a few hours after sunburn occurs, but sometimes they can take up to 24 hours to develop.
Sunburn blisters can be extremely painful and take around a week to heal. This type of burn also increases the risk of developing skin cancer and melanoma. After the blisters heal, blister scars that appear as dark or light spots on the surface of the skin can remain visible for 6 to 12 months. In this article, we look at what causes these blisters to form, how to look after them, and what can be done to protect the skin from the sun.
They are usually white or transparent in appearance and filled with fluid, which can be lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus. Most people who get sunburned will find the blisters very painful, particularly if touched or if an item of clothing rubs against them. They may also become extremely itchy. Sunburn blisters usually only ever occur when a person has been severely sunburned. Because of this, several complications can arise in a person who develops blisters due to overexposure to the sun.
Anyone who experiences these symptoms after being in the sun should seek advice from their doctor, regardless of whether sunburn blisters appear or not. Sunburn blisters alone have few complications, though an infection may occur if they are picked at or popped.
An infection could require medical treatment and will likely lead to scarring. Because sunburn blisters usually only occur in people with bad sunburn, there is also an increased risk of skin cancer.
Many people with sunburn blisters find that they heal naturally and will disappear by themselves after about a week. However, if a person is uncertain whether the lumps on their skin are sunburn blisters, they should visit a doctor or a dermatologist who will examine them and make a diagnosis based on the appearance of the lumps.
The doctor or dermatologist can then offer possible treatment options and advice. One of the most common types of rash is heat rash, or miliaria. Heat rash is a skin condition that often affects children and adults in hot, humid…. Your lips are vulnerable to sunburns, which increases your chances of developing lip cancer.
Regardless of where you live, your lips are exposed to…. Want to change up your hydration routine after a sweat session? These great-tasting fluids will rehydrate and power your body — no water required. Here are 16 of the best sunscreens on the market in spray, lotion, and solid forms, and for different needs. They're tried and true. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Sarah Taylor, M. Are you feeling the burn? A sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet UV light from the sun.
Learn about what to expect as your body works to remove and repair the damaged skin. Do more severe burns last longer? Factors that affect duration of a sunburn.
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