Sunburn

The rejuvenating warmth of the sun feels good for a while, but over time, too much exposure can cause your skin to suffer. Sunburns occur when ultraviolet (UV) rays cause damage to the outer layer of your skin. It’s a common occurrence that affects nearly everyone – especially during sunny, summer days.

What is Sunburn?

The sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage the skin, causing mild pain and redness to affect the outer layer of the skin. Usually, the skin is painful to the touch, but the condition is easily treatable at home. Some people experience more severe sunburn that causes the skin to redden, swell up, and form blisters. This is an indication that deeper layers of skin have been affected. Sometimes, the nerve endings are compromised.

The type of skin that you have will determine your vulnerability to suffering sunburn. People that tend to sunburn the most have fair skin, freckles, red or blond hear, and blue eyes. Age also plays a role – children younger than six and adults older than 60 are more sensitive to sunlight.

Causes of Sunburn

• Season of the year – the summertime creates more sunburns • Altitude – It’s easier to get sunburned at higher altitudes since there is less of the atmosphere to block the sunlight • Closeness to the equator – More direct sunlight passes through the atmosphere when you are closer to the equator • UV index – Checking the UV index of the day can tell you the risk of going out in the sun for the day