So here I am, an otondo camping in a state that reads between 40’-45’C as early as 10am. Our face caps doesn’t do justice in protecting the face neither does sunscreen screen anything. Gigantic sunglasses and bathing like one million times in a day is the trend. In as much as I like flaunting my marching skills on the parade ground, afternoon drills are a no no for me. Why? Because Sunburn is real!
Sunburn is when sun burns your skin! Some people will ask “ahh sun dey burn skin?” Yes, Sun dey burn skin. This is usually not noticeable in my fellow melanin popping people but our yellow pawpaw will definitely go red if not dark in severe cases, plus it’s painful like your skin has just been burnt with a lighter.
Seriously speaking, Sunburn is a skin damage caused by overexposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The skin becomes red, warm, sore and tender. Headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, massive fluid loss dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and possibly infection are experienced if the sunburn is severe.
Any exposed part of your body; including your earlobes, scalp and lips, can burn. Even covered areas can burn if, for example, your clothing has a loose weave that allows ultraviolet (UV) light through. Your eyes, which are extremely sensitive to the sun's UV light, also can burn. Sunburned eyes may feel painful or gritty.
Your body may start to flake and peel after a few days (healing process), and will usually fully heal within 7 days.
The extent of a sunburn depends on your skin type ( melanin popping or yellow pawpaw) and the amount of exposure to UV rays you’ve received. First-degree sunburns can be red and painful to the touch, but affect only the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Burns of this severity should heal within a few days.
A second-degree sunburn is more serious. “These sunburns are severely red and make the skin swell up and blister,” says Dr. Natalie Curcio, MD, MPH, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Nashville. “This means that the dermis (a deeper layer of skin) and nerve endings have been damaged. This type of sunburn will take longer to heal than a first-degree burn and will likely be more painful.”
Unfortunately, both of these types of burns can start to peel (usually about three days after you sustain them).
Treatments
The first thing to do is to go indoors away from the sun rays. Take a cool shower or use cold water to cool the sunburn. Do not place ice directly on the sunburn. Avoid harsh soaps. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen (which are also anti-inflammatory drugs) and sunburn gels or creams (especially formulations containing Aloe, coconut oil, essential lavender oil, sunscreen SPF 30 and greater) to soothe irritated skin and protect the skin against further burns. If medical treatment is necessary, stronger pain medication, antibiotics or silver sulfadiazine may be prescribed.
Pharm G B. IDAMKUE is wishing everyone a Happy Yuletide, may the joy season brings never depart our homes!
Reference:
1. link accessed on the 21st of November, 2018
2. link accessed on the 21st of November, 2018
3. link accessed on the 22nd of November, 2018
4. link accessed on the 23rd of November, 2018
Beautiful
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