Walking outside for a few hours can lead to sunburn. It is not a severe condition but can lead to skin damage. Sunburn is inflamed and the person can feel pain when touching the skin. People face sunburn problems when they walk for a few hours on a sunny day. If your skin is prone to sunburn then you should always take care of your skin. You should talk about self-care measures, cooling pads, etc. If the sunburn patches cause pain then you should keep pain relievers. Most people don’t feel pain on sunburn patches but the skin gets damaged. Your skin may take a few days or weeks to recover.
Common symptoms of sunburn
- Skin feels hot or warm when touch
- Inflamed skin
- Swelling
- Pain
- Tenderness or itching
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Headache
- Nausea
- Eyes can feel gritty
You can get sunburn on any body part that is exposed to the sun such as the face, earlobes, lips, scalp, etc. Sometimes covered areas can also burn when you are wearing loose weave clothes. You can get sunburn within a few hours of sun exposure. The skin starts healing itself by peeling the damaged skin. If a person has a bad sunburn then it may take several days to heal.
If the sunburn is very severe then you must visit a doctor. You can adopt homeopathic treatment Pennsylvania for good skin repair. Look for immediate help when the skin develops large blisters on the face, hands, or genitals. Some people also experience swelling or infection in the affected areas.
What are the causes and risk factors for sunburn?
The cause behind sunburn is too much exposure to UV light. This UV light can be natural (the sun) or artificial (tanning beds or sunlamps). These rays penetrate the deep skin layers and damage the skin. The immune system increases blood flow which leads to inflamed skin known as sunburn.
Common risk factors for sunburn are:
- Having white skin
- Living or vacationing at a sunny location
- Working outside
- Having red hair
- Swimming in the sun
- Regular exposure to UV light
- History of sunburn
Best ways to protect your skin from sunburn
Always use sunscreen
The primary and most effective method to protect your skin from sun damage is sunscreen. These sunscreens are assigned an SPF number that shows their effectiveness in blocking UV rays. A higher SPF number means better protection. A person should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has at least SPF 15. Wear light sunscreen even if it is cloudy or you are at home. This broad-spectrum label means the sunscreen filters UVA and UVB radiation exposure. Put a thick layer of sunscreen on all body parts that are exposed to the sun. You should remember that sunscreen wears off if you are staying in the sun for a long time or you are sweating.
Avoid walking out in the sun
Try to avoid the sun as much as possible. If you have any work, do it before the peak sun or delay it to the evening. Don’t walk outside between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reduce sun exposure to protect your skin from sunburn. If you are walking outside, try to look for shade. Too much skin exposure not only causes skin damage but can also increase the risk of skin cancer. If you are standing, look for any shade such as a tree, umbrella, or any shelter.
Wear right outfits
If you are walking outside; work on your outfits. Wear long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants to protect the skin from the sun. Also, check for the weaving of your clothing. Wear tight women’s fabrics for better protection. Some people wet their shirts to get a cooling effect. But it can increase sun damage.
Wear a hat and mask
Finding shade while walking outside is difficult. To protect your face from the sun; wear a hat. A big hat can protect your face, ears, or even the back of your neck. People often wear straw hats on beaches. These hats look good but have holes that lead sunlight through. If you are wearing a baseball cap then you should also wear a mask to get better protection.
Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses protect the eyes from UV rays and reduce the chances of getting cataracts. Sunglasses also protect the skin under your eyes. Under-eye skin is very sensitive. Using too much sunscreen under eye skin is also difficult as it may go into the eyes. Sunglasses are a good catch to protect the sensitive skin.