Understand Sunburn
and Sunburn Blisters
You know sunburn when it happens - red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. And sunburn blisters may follow.
What is Sunburn?
Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin that is caused by too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure, more specifically the ultraviolet radiation. It is simply a burn or erythema(reddening) and oedema(swelling) on the skin.Sunburn blisters may develop hours or days later for severe cases. Anyone who visits a beach, goes swimming, works outdoor or merely is out in the sun can get sunburn. Sunburn may also occur from exposure to other UV light source such as tanning bed or lamp used in tanning salons. While the symptoms are usually temporary, the skin damage is often permanent and can have serious long-term health effects like skin cancer.
What Causes Sunburn?
Let's take a minute to understand the basic principle of electromagnetic spectrum. The spectrum is divided according to wavelength:- cosmic, gamma rays, X-rays (<100nm)
- ultraviolet (<400nm)
- visible (400 - 700nm)
- infrared (>700nm)
Different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation cause different types of effects on people. For example, gamma rays are used in cancer therapy and infrared light can be used to keep warmth. The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum is further divided into 3 wavelength bands: - UV-A (315 - 400nm)
- UV-B (280 -315nm)
- UV-C (100 - 280nm)
UV-C radiation is absorbed in the ozone layer of the atmosphere before reaching the earth. UV-A and UV-B radiation are primary cause of sunburn. Our skin reacts differently to UV-A and UV-B.UV-A effects on the skin - penetrates into the dermis (middle skin layer) and subcutaneous fat causing damage to the site where new skin cells are created
- long-term exposure causes injury to the dermis resulting in ageing skin
UV-B effects on the skin - about 90% is absorbed by the epidermis (surface skin layer)
- epidermis respond by releasing chemicals that cause the reddening and swelling characteristic of the early signs of sunburn
- prolong exposure increases the risk of skin cancer
Risks Factors
Persons with certain pigment disorders such as albinism and persons with fair skin are at highest risk of suffering a tan and sunburn blisters.
People with darker skin have more melanin, which offers some protection from suntan but not from UV-induced skin damage. Regardless of your skin type, the UV radiation penetrates deeply into the skin and damages DNA of the skin cells.
Signs and Symptom of Sunburn
The signs and symptoms of sunburn differs according to the skin type and length of exposure to UV radiation. Fifteen minutes of mid-day sun exposure may cause sunburn in a fair skin person while a darker skinned person may tolerate the exposure for hours.First, the skin becomes red, tender and hot. Touching or rubbing the skin causes pain. Other common symptoms include: - swelling
- small fluid-filled sunburn blisters, which may break
- headache
- chills and fever
- rash
- nausea
- skin peeling
Learn more about Causes of Skin Aging besides sunburn and sun exposure.
Take a QUIZ! If I do not burn, am I still causing skin damage? YES or NO?
The answer is Yes. Even if you do not get sunburn, any change in skin colour is a sign of skin damage that may lead to melanoma and other skin cancers as well as premature skin ageing - wrinkles and age spots.
Related Articles
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How to take effective sun protection measures to reduce damage from sun exposure?
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