Sunburn

how long do tanning bed burns last
how long do tanning bed burns last

What are the symptoms of sunburn?

If you get a sunburn, your skin might feel like it’s on fire — a hot and burning sensation that gets worse when you touch it, even with clothing.

Symptoms of sunburn depend on how severe your burn is. Symptoms may include:

First-degree sunburn symptoms

  • Redness on lighter skin. People with dark skin can get sunburns, but they can be harder to see unless they peel or blister.
  • Skin feels hot or tight.
  • Pain or tenderness.
  • Swelling.
  • Peeling skin (after several days).

You may also experience:

  • Fatigue.
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Nausea.

Second-degree sunburn symptoms

  • Extremely red skin.
  • Blisters
  • Swelling over a larger area.
  • Wet-looking skin.
  • Pain.
  • White discoloration within the burn.

You may also experience symptoms of heat illness, including:

  • Confusion.
  • Dizziness.
  • Exhaustion.
  • Fast breathing.
  • Fever.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle cramps.
  • Nausea.
  • Shivers.

Third-degree sunburn symptoms

  • Leathery-looking burn.
  • Numb skin.
  • White or dull skin color.
  • All the above heat illness symptoms including shock and/or heat stroke.

What does a bad sunburn look like?

No sunburn is good. But a bad sunburn looks very red and inflamed. You may develop blisters and your skin will likely peel.

What are the three stages of sunburn?

While others may notice your skin turning pink in the sun, unless you’re looking in a mirror, you probably won’t notice sunburn until the pain starts. Your sunburn will go through three stages:

  1. Pain from sunburn usually starts within a few hours of your burn.
  2. Your skin will get redder and more irritated, with pain peaking at about 24 hours after your burn. If you have a second-degree sunburn, you’ll start to blister.
  3. Over the next week or so, your skin may peel and should gradually return to its normal shade. If you have a severe sunburn, this may take a few weeks.

What causes sunburn?

Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet rays. There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. Both types of rays can burn your skin.

Anyone can get a sunburn. But your chance of getting a sunburn increases depending on:

  • The amount of time you spend in the sun.
  • Certain medications, including antibiotics like doxycycline and Bactrim™, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), retinoids and heart medications (like diuretics).
  • Intensity of UV rays. This is affected by the time of day, cloud coverage, altitude and closeness to the equator.
  • Ozone depletion, depending on where you are in the world.
  • Skin type and color.
  • Use of tanning beds without sunscreen.