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Summer is definitely one of the best seasons because you get to do all the amazing outdoor activities but unless you are really careful, if you stay in the sun for a prolonged period of time, then your skin is bound to pay the price. Sunburns are some of the most painful, irritating and hot conditions you can incur during summer or when exposed to the sun for too long.

Now, as most people believe, the beach is where you get sunburn but on the contrary to that, not by a long stretch. Actually, going to the beach means that you have already taken some of the necessary precautions but not so much in other places. Depending on where you live, you can get #sunburn by simply walking on the streets or visiting the park so at some point, it becomes inevitable to get sunburned.

Sunburn Causes.

Sunburn is a burn on the skin caused by over exposure to the sun, UV light as well as tanning lamps. They can look like discoloration, blackening, blistering or even skin chapping. People who visit the beach to sunbathe or work on their tan often are more prone to sunburns.

Prevention.

Sunburn is a painful ordeal you want to avoid and apart from pain, it also causes premature aging and later on even skin cancer. The easiest and most natural way to prevent it is by wearing UV protective clothing and the right sunscreen for your skin type. Sunscreen is the best solution for people who often go to the beach and like staying under the sun. When buying sunscreen, you should consider if you will be swimming so that you can get a waterproof sunscreen. This way, the water and sweat will not wipe it out.

How To Tell A Severe Sunburn.

First-degree sunburns.

This is a mild type of sunburn that almost everyone experiences at some point in their life. You get red painful skin with no swelling, no blisters but you might get some peeling skin, however a painkiller and a cool bath will get rid of the pain easily.

Second-degree burns.

These are quite serious but you can still treat them at home with ease. You get red painful skin accompanied by painful water blisters. You can use a cool compress, use a lotion to moisten the area but do not pop the blisters because you will be risking an infection. You can also take a painkiller for the pain.

Third degree burns.

These are extremely serious and call for immediate medical attention. This is when you get pain, redness, skin tightness, swelling, large blisters and white patches on the skin.

Treatment.

Once you feel like you have sunburned skin, you should begin treatment immediately by putting cold water or ice on that area in order to cool the temperature and keep that area moist. Alternatively, you can take a cool shower then apply Aloe Vera since it has anti-inflammatory properties or a moisturizing cream. Do not apply petroleum-based jelly because it will clog the pores, trap the heat in and cause infection.

You can take OTC pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen but do not give children and teens aspirin and no popping blisters because it lengthens the healing process and causes infections.

During the healing process, do not use strong soaps, and do not wear tight clothing that might cause more irritation. Try not to peel too much skin while you scratch because it gets a bit itchy as it heals and continue with the cream. Whatever you do, stay away from the sun because it can make things really worse like triggering skin cancer. If you have sunburns on the face, you can place slices of tomatoes, cucumbers or potatoes on those regions for relief.

Sunburns are caused by extreme heat, which means that the skin gets dehydrated, so one of the best ways of treating is by hydrating it. You should drink a significant amount of water or stick to a fluid diet on a regular basis. However, you can still eat fruits like watermelons, oranges, sweet limes and cantaloupe.

In conclusion, regardless of the extent of the damage, you should stay away from the sun until it is completely healed but you should strive to prevent and not cure sunburns. Always make sure that you wear sunscreen even when you are not going to a beach and drink as much water as possible.