| The experience of sunburn can be a very | | | | are serious about preserving our health. |
| efficient (i.e. painful) reminder to heed adequate | | | | Now while it may be easier to ignore the effects |
| protection on future occasions. However more | | | | of sunburn occurring at a cellular level, ignoring the |
| importantly, it should be a reminder of the | | | | external symptoms of sunburn in the days |
| long-term effects of sun exposure on our bodies | | | | immediately following such exposure is entirely |
| and health - which can include aging of the skin | | | | another matter. |
| and skin cancer. | | | | While sunburn is usually not immediately obvious, |
| In order to more fully understand these | | | | skin discoloration (ranging from slightly pink to |
| consequences, let's take a look at exactly what | | | | severely red or even purplish) will initially appear |
| sunburn is, its symptoms and its effect on the | | | | from 1 - 24 hours after exposure. Although pain is |
| body. | | | | usually worst 6 - 48 hours afterward, the burn |
| Sunburn results when the amount of exposure to | | | | can continue to develop for 24 - 72 hours after |
| the sun, or other ultraviolet light source (e.g. | | | | the incident. Where there is skin peeling, this |
| tanning lamps and welding arcs etc.), exceeds the | | | | generally occurs 3 - 8 days after the burn occurs. |
| ability of the body's protective pigment, melanin, | | | | While minor sunburns typically cause nothing more |
| to protect the skin. Melanin content varies greatly, | | | | than warm/hot skin, slight redness, and |
| but in general darker skinned people have more | | | | tenderness to the affected area, -- in more |
| melanin than lighter skinned. (Although fairer | | | | serious cases, extreme redness, swelling and |
| skinned people are generally more prone to | | | | blistering can occur. These blisters filled with fluid |
| getting sunburn than darker skinned people, this | | | | may itch and eventually break. This can then |
| certainly does not exclude the latter from risk.) | | | | cause peeling of the skin, exposing an even |
| Sunburn destroys cells in the outer layer of the | | | | tenderer layer of skin underneath. |
| skin, damaging tiny blood vessels underneath. | | | | Severe sunburn can cause very red, blistered skin |
| Burns deeper into the skin's layers also damage | | | | but can also be accompanied by fever, chills, |
| elastic fibers in the skin, which over time and with | | | | nausea (in some cases vomiting), and dehydration. |
| repeated sun overexposure, can result in the | | | | In instances of extreme sunburn where the pain |
| appearance of yellowish, wrinkled skin. | | | | is debilitating, medical treatment may be required. |
| The damage to skin cells from UV exposure | | | | While the immediate effects of sunburn can |
| (either sunlight or tanning lamps etc.) can also | | | | certainly be painful and cause discomfort, the real |
| include damage to their DNA. It's this repeated | | | | deterrent to UV overexposure should be the |
| DNA damage, which can lead to a cell becoming | | | | potential damage to your long-term health - |
| cancerous. With the incidence of skin cancer rising | | | | including the risk of premature aging of the skin |
| dangerously in many parts of the world, and with | | | | along with skin cancer. |
| its ability to develop and establish itself in the | | | | Don't let sunburn and sun overexposure kill your |
| body 'long' before external signs are detected, -- | | | | chances of enjoying youthful skin, and a healthy |
| paying attention to this aspect of sun exposure | | | | body. Remember, the easiest way to treat |
| and sunburn should certainly not be ignored if we | | | | sunburn will always be to avoid it in the first place! |