Believe it or not, there really is a thing as getting “too much sun.” Living in the desert, prolonged sun exposure goes with the territory, so it is easy to assume that most residents know and understand the need for proper skin care and protection. Still, pharmacists report 10 to 20 people on a weekly basis seek advice on how to calm red, inflamed and peeling skin that is hot and stinging to the touch – in
other words, victims of the dreaded sunburn.
A sunburn occurs when overexposure to UVA and UVB rays causes inflammation to the skin. As pharmacists, we usually encounter individuals who suffer from first and second degree burns. A first degree burn displays redness, itching, pain and peeling of the skin. Second degree burns usually feature blistering, which happens because the UV radiation has penetrated deeply enough that the body is fighting to cool the skin. Once the blister pops, the skin is broken and is at risk for infection, so we
immediately recommend these individuals seek quick care for further treatment if the area is larger than a few inches, or located in a pronounced area like face, feet, hands, or groin.
Our goal at the pharmacy is to keep people from having to seek treatment by preventing sunburns in the first place. Sun burns are one of the top risks for developing skin cancers later in life. The risk of skin cancer, like melanoma, dramatically increases with years and years of repeated sun damage. Let’s take a look at the different ways we can protect the skin we’re in and also address some of the common myths associated with sunburns:
MYTH: If my skin looks/feels fine, then it is fine. One thing that people aren’t aware of is that they may feel “fine” while out in the sun, not realizing that their skin is literally baking. The “ouch” factor usually won’t appear until 6-12 hours after exposure. Depending on the severity of the burn, redness, inflammation itching, and pain can last up to between four and six days. Unfortunately, if the burn has
caused blistering, those symptoms can last between two and three 3 weeks. In my experience, people tend to think about protecting their skin in the short term only. It would be more advantageous to think about what your skin will look like in 10, 20 or even 30 years. If we protect ourselves now, we lessen the chance of skin cancers, dark spots, wrinkles, or sun spots later in life.
FACT: You need to wear sunscreen. At all times. The most popular, and easiest, defense is to wear sunscreen when outdoors for extended time periods beyond just a few minutes. SPF (or Sun Protection Factor) measures how much protection you will get against ultraviolet rays once applied. Let’s say skin would burn after 10 minutes of sun exposure; applying an SPF 15 sunscreen would allow you to stay in the sun without burning for approximately 150 minutes (a factor of 15 times longer). That being said, one mistake I often see is that people will apply sunscreen before heading out, which is good, but fail to reapply throughout the day. General rule of thumb is to reapply every two hours, and every 45 minutes if in water or profusely sweating.
MYTH: SPF 50 sunscreen offers the best protection against sun damage. I wish that more people would ask me which sunscreen is the best to use. SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of ultraviolet rays; SPF 30 will give you about 4 percent more protection. Put simply, any higher SPF is providing virtually the same amount of protection that SPF 15 and 30 does.
FACT: Even on an overcast day, sunburns can still occur. Clouds aren’t impenetrable – UVA rays can still get through and cause damage. It may take a little longer, as UVA rays break through at around 40 percent, but you can definitely still burn.
MYTH: Darker skin = no chance of sunburn. While it is true that darker skin, or more melanin, handles the sun better, unfortunately it still can, and will, burn. Everyone must wear sunscreen at all times, no matter the race, ethnicity or age. Again, the long term effects of prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer, even if you never notice any prominent skin damage.
FACT: Infants under 6 months of age are most susceptible to sunburn. Babies under 6 months have underdeveloped skin with a larger surface area which allows for more absorption of sunrays as well as chemicals from sun lotions. As we age, our skin develops and surface area per body size decreases, which offers more protection and lessens sun exposure risk. We don’t apply sunscreen on babies under 6 months old, so they can burn quickly and easily. A good rule of thumb is to keep them out of the sun completely.
Myth: It’s impossible for ears and lips to burn. Areas we always forget to apply sunscreen, the ears and lips, also happen to have the thinnest skin on our bodies. Use lip balm with SPF protection and when applying lotion to our face, don’t forget to cover the ears!
FACT: The best defense against the sun is to stay out of the sun. Complete avoidance of the outdoors isn’t realistic, but you can definitely put extra effort into staying indoors during the months when the sun is at its most intense, or designate outdoor activities to early morning or evening hours. If you do venture outside, take care to shield skin with loose clothing, hats, and sunglasses, and keep a look out
for the spots that provide the most shade.
Let’s say you’ve taken every precaution possible, yet you still managed to get a sunburn. It happens. There are over the counter medications and natural treatments that can aid sufferers. When the body experiences a burn it immediately tries to cool itself, and we can help it along by taking cool baths or applying cold compresses. Aloe Vera has very soothing, healing properties that can help take the sting
out of a burn. Solarcaine, which comes in a spray or gel, has lidocaine in it, which can numb the skin and help ease pain and is available over the counter in the pharmacy. It is also important to remember that a sunburn is inflammation of the skin – so don’t forget adding an anti-inflammatory drug like Ibuprofen,
Aleve, or Motrin. And last, but certainly not least, stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water and fluids, which will help replenish stores because the body is using all reserves to help cool itself. Hydrating will prevent dehydration.
Daniel W. Heller, Pharm D., is Patient Care Coordinator for Smith’s Food & Drug Stores.
