Treating That Serious Sunburn After The Fact

It seems to be much easier to get a sunburn these days. On certain days for some people, regardless of what the SPF level is, will still experience sun burning and this is due to the current state of the protective ozone layer. Some people will sunburn regardless of the protective steps they take other than completely staying out of the sun.

The misleading information at the core of the sunscreen selling pitch is not doing the protection detail it was advertised to do and that is sad that many people pay a price for believing this misinformation. The real truth is that sunscreen only blocks about one half of the sun's damaging rays and has not been proven to prevent skin cancer or sunburn and to further validate this fact, anyone who spends time at the pool, beach, ocean or lake, even after using generous amounts of sunscreen can get burns before they head home.

If you are experiencing slightly pink skin, you most likely are seeing a mild sunburn in progress and this burn will continue to darken to brown within 12 to 24 hours. If the skin is really red and very touch sensitive, the sting will continue for 24 to 48 hours and begin to experience the classic peel and itch episodes. You can also expect the under skin layer to become exposed and when this begins to happen the last thing you should do is immediately go for another dose of the sun. The damaged skin area completely sun free and let it heal to cut down the chances of infection or poisoning.

In sun poisoning type situations there may be blistering as well and in most cases this will resolve itself if confined to a small enough region of the body. In cases where almost the entire person has received this type of sun damage it is important to seek out medical attention because serious sunburns can act much in the same way of a regular burn and can cause a person to dehydrate or suffer other significant health problems as well.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body and needs your help protecting it. When you are out in the sun, be very cautious what sunscreen you choose to use and don't be mislead into believing all the magic hype associated with sunscreen advertising. In addition to wearing sunscreen you should make these other things part of your sun session: find an area that has shade close by, hydrate properly and have time limits in the direct sunlight. Sunscreen does offer some protection, but there is also an element caution to be used and always use common sense. Without a dose of common sense you could find yourself burned, blistering and miserable for the new few days.