Who doesn’t enjoy a beautiful day in the sun?
But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
Overexposure to the sun can wreak havoc on your skin and potentially make you very ill.
But what exactly is a sunburn?
I asked renowned dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldenberg ofGoldenberg Dermatologyin New York City to define it for me.
The telltale signs of a sunburn are redness and swelling.
Dr. Goldenberg added, “These changes are related to the amount and depth of damage of keratinocytes.”
Have you ever had a sunburn that was so severe your skin started to peel?
Peeling is really just those dead cells sloughing off.
He explained, “Sand, water, and even snow can intensify the sun’s rays.”
So, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen during your next ski vacation.
You blister
One major sign you’ve had too much sun is that your skin blisters.
A reaction like this must be taken very seriously.
Dr. Goldenberg explained that skin blistering is the most severe throw in of sunburn.
“[Blistering] relates to complete damage of the epidermis by UV [rays].
When these cells are damaged, their DNA is damaged.”
This can be incredibly dangerous and potentially irreversible.
These blisters can even affect us for the rest our lives.
It just refers to getting exposed to excessive sun causing severe sunburn from damaging UV rays."
But, sun poisoning can still be harmful.
Now,what exactly happens to your body when you get sun poisoning?
You should also immediately apply aloe lotion or moisturizer to soothe the affected areas.
Take Tylenol or Advil for any pain or fevers.
And drink plenty of water for several days afterwards."
They suggest wearing sunglasses and avoiding looking into the sun directly.
He added it’s always best to wear polarized lenses to protect your eyes.
you’re free to find sunglasses with polarized lenses at most optical stores.
Nurse Nataly said this, like a bad headache, could be the sign of a heat stroke.
You become dehydrated
Dehydration can throw your body into a tailspin.
It’s more than just being thirsty because dehydration can become so severe you end up in the hospital.
Your muscles hurt
The cumulative results of sweating and dehydration can also lead to muscle pain.
If you’ve ever gone running outside on a hot day, you’ve probably had this experience.Dr.
So while we don’t often see the results of sun damage immediately, it’s still happening."
“Skin cancer in younger patients is on the rise, especially in young women.”
Dr. Goldenberg stated this statistic is the result of two major factors.
“This has been linked to tanning bed use and increased sun exposure.
In fact, a single childhood sunburn is correlated with an increased risk of melanoma as an adult.”
Dr. Goldenberg said it is important to have your skin checked for moles and freckles by a doctor.
Every single medical professional I spoke with could not stress the importance of wearing sunscreen enough.
Not everyone’s skin has the same reaction to the sun.
Dr. Nazarian advised, “People with lighter skin tones need to be extra careful about sun exposure.”
This means applying (and re-applying) sunscreen.
But perhaps the most important thing to do is to know your own body.
