People with fair skin are more likely to get sunburn. But even dark and black skin can burn and should be protected. The sun's rays are strongest during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The sun's rays are also stronger at higher altitudes and lower latitudes (closer to the tropics). Reflection off water, sand, or snow can intensify the sun's burning rays. Some medications can also make you more susceptible to sunburn. Prior recent sun exposure and prior skin injury are risks for sunburn, even in limited exposure to the sun. However, normal limited exposure to UV radiation produces beneficial vitamin D in the skin



Sunburn is the browning of the skin from over-exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Possible symptoms of sunburn are redness of skin, blisters, severe reaction sometimes called sun-poisoning including fever, chills, nausea or rash and skin peeling on sunburned areas after a few days of sunburn. Though the symptoms like red skin are temporary but the skin damage is often permanent and may cause serious long-term effects on health. It can be life-threatening and a leading cause to cancer.

The best treatment for sunburns is prevention. The next best treatment is time; given a few weeks, they will heal on their own. You can help prevent sunburn by protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun and using sunscreen, clothing.

After sunburn temporary relief can be obtained by putting a cool, wet towel over the affected area. Try taking a cool bath or shower. Or place wet, cold wash cloths on the burn for 10 to 15 minutes, several times a day. You can mix baking soda in the water to help relieve the pain.. More severe burns may be treated with burn ointments. There are also skin products that relieve the pain of sunburn with a cooling effect. Aloe gel is a common household remedy for sunburns. Apply a soothing lotion to the skin but void lotions that contain topical anesthetic medications because you can become sensitized and then allergic to that medicine. Aloe contains active compounds that help stop pain and inflammation of the skin. An over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be helpful. Stay in the shade until the sunburn is healed. Additional sun exposure will only increase the severity and pain of the sunburn.

Do not apply petroleum jelly, lidocaine, or butter to the sunburn. They make the symptoms worse and can prevent healing and do not wash burned skin with harsh soap. Don't slap perfumes or colognes on sunburned skin. The chemicals in them can irritate skin that already is hurt. If your case is severe enough, oral steroid therapy (cortisonelike medications) may be prescribed for several days. Steroid creams placed on the skin show minimal to no benefit. Stronger pain-relieving medication may be prescribed in certain cases.