Sun Protection
Differences Between Sun-Tanning And Sun-Burning
Tanning and burning are completely two different matters,
whether it is intentional or unintentional, the results are
the consequences of being out in the sun. Most people love
the healthy glow that sun can produce. Although two persons
who spend the same amount of time exposed to the same sun
intensity, the results vary. One might come home in agony
while other comes home looking sleek and glamorous
The result has a lot to do with a person's skin type. The
other factors that can influence the end result include the
consumption of certain prescription medications and using
certain types of skin care products, so now, let’s examine
them closely.
When our skin is exposed to the sun without enough sun protection,
the exposure which causes melanin, the pigment in the body
that gives skin its color, to rise to the surface of the skin.
The melanin plays a role of protecting skin from the sun.
Generally, people with light or fair skin have less melanin
whereas people with dark complexions obviously have more melanin.
Since the major role of melanin is to protect our skin from
the sun, so, it makes sense then that those with less melanin
have less protection and vice versa. Darker-skinned individuals
tan more often than they burn, but of course, not all the
time.
Since sun burn might take few hours to develop, which is
why most people don't realize they are burning instead of
tanning. They might not reapply sunscreen or cover up if they're
not feeling burned. Unfortunately, it's usually not until
later that they realize just how bad the situation is.
How To Treat Sun Burnt Skin?
On top of the embarrassing skin color you get from sunburns,
there exist other symptoms. You might also feel nauseous and
dehydrated, and dizzy or light-headed. Few days later, sunburned
skin will begin to peel and unfortunately, unlike what many
people think and hope, sunburned skin will not turn into a
tan.
There isn't much you can do to ease the above symptoms of
sunburn. But, you'll definitely want to put on minimal, loose-fitting
clothing as any rubbing against the burn will be painful.
You might want to use pain reliever such as aspirin or acetaminophen
to help you to minimize pain and discomfort. The best thing
you could do is keeping the body cool, so fill a tub with
cool or tepid water and soak. And remind yourself that next
time, you'll use sun protection!
Do not attempt to soak your body in a tub full of vinegar
or rub the burn with butter. Although these remedies have
been around for years but they have not been proven to be
effective ways to treat sunburns. In fact, it's recommended
that you should not apply lotions or creams since you never
know whether the product will intensify the pain or relieve
it. And for certain products, including butter, might trap
the heat and cause more discomfort.
If the sunburn is accompanied by blisters, you may have developed
a severe second-degree burn. Blistering is normal after a
few days but if it appears immediately, it signals that your
sunburn is very severe. In this case, it's advisable to seek
medical attention right away.
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