Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much exposure to UV light can make your skin red and painful. This may later lead to peeling or blistering.
Sources of UV light include:
- sunlight
- tanning beds
- phototherapy lamps – these are used in light therapy to treat conditions such as jaundice in newborn babies (yellowing of the skin)
Sunburn often occurs when the sun’s rays are intense. However, there is also a risk of getting burned by the sun in other weather conditions. For example, light reflecting off snow can also cause sunburn. A cloudy sky or breeze may make you feel cooler, but sunlight can still get through and damage your skin.
Melanin
Melanin is a pigment that is produced when your skin is exposed to sunlight. It absorbs the UV radiation found in sunlight to help protect your skin. This results in your skin becoming darker, which is a sign that it has been damaged by UV rays.
Melanin stops you burning so easily but it does not prevent the other harmful effects of UV radiation, such as cancer and premature ageing. See Sunburn - complications for more information about these.
Who is at risk of sunburn?
Everyone who is exposed to UV light is at risk of getting sunburn. However, the less melanin you have, the less protected you are against the effects of UV light.
For example, if you have fair skin or red hair, or if you have not been in the sun much, your melanin levels will be low, which means that your risk of burning more quickly rises.
Outlook
Mild sunburn usually goes away around four to seven days after exposure to UV rays. However, frequently exposing your skin to UV rays for long periods of time increases your risk of developing various skin problems, such as:
-
prickly heat – an itchy, red rash that occurs when you sweat more than usual
- early ageing of the skin and wrinkling
- solar keratoses – rough, scaly spots on the skin due to damage from UV light exposure
-
skin cancer
The long-term consequences of UV exposure can be prevented by using a good-quality sunscreen. Sunscreen is available from pharmacies and supermarkets, and comes in a number of different strengths.
Last updated: 27 January 2012
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