Bask in sun but be careful: Experts

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 23

People often like to sit under the sun during the winter season unaware of the fact that overexposure to sunrays can result in sunburns, which is bad for the skin. One needs to be careful while basking in the sun.

Dr Sunil K Gupta, professor and head, dermatology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said sunburns were quite common in the winter season when people prefer to enjoy the beaming sunrays but long hours of exposing your skin to sunrays could result in sunburns.

Treating sunburns

• Take frequent cool bath or showers to help relieve the pain.
• Use a moisturiser that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin.
• Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling, redness and discomfort.
• Drink extra water.
• If your skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal.

“A damage to the skin also depends on the time at which your skin is exposed to the sun. The mid-day sun (10 am to 2 pm) is the strongest and can burn your skin. The severity of your sunburn usually depends on the time of the exposure. Minor sunburns only result in red skin, which is sometimes tender to the touch. Major sunburns can have serious consequences. These include fever, weakness nausea, fainting and low blood pressure,” he said.

Dr Sukhjot Kaur, associate professor of dermatology at the hospital, said though the skin starts getting affected within 15 minutes of exposure, redness usually takes about half an hour to appear. This may be followed by pain that develops between six to 48 hours after the burn appears. One may also notice peeling skin after a few days.

Another city-based dermatologist said if one had been sunburned, it might take two days for the severity of your burn to become evident and several more days for your skin to begin to heal.

“Sunburn treatment doesn’’t heal your skin, but it can reduce pain, swelling and discomfort. If care at home does not help or your sunburn is severe, your doctor might offer additional treatments or admit you to a hospital,” he said.