Sunburn refers to the appearance of red, painful patches of skin that are usually hot to the touch. They show when the skin cells react to too much exposure to UV rays from the sun or other artificial sources such as sun lamps or UV radiation devices.
Most sunburns might appear after a few minutes or hours as red patches of skin and they continue to develop for the next several hours. The time it takes for the sunburn to heal usually depends on its severity – a mild sunburn might go away after 24 to 72 hours but a severe case might take longer to heal. Severe burns might also come with other symptoms like severe pain or itchiness.
Existing sunburns might also worsen with more exposure to UV rays. A severe burn with blisters requires urgent care because it might lead to a more serious condition like sun poisoning.
Patients from New Hampshire and Massachusetts don’t need to worry about sunburn and other related conditions due to excessive sun exposure, thanks to different medical treatments for the skin at Dermatology & Skin Health. Our team of board-certified dermatologists and highly-trained medical professionals perform each skin treatment inside state-of-the-art facilities to ensure your safety and comfort.
By consulting with us now, you can find out which treatment option for sunburnt skin is the best pick for you. We perform different tests to help determine how the sun damage has affected your skin and what we can do about it. Book your first consultation with us by calling us or filling out our form online.
At Dermatology & Skin Health, we offer world-class services done by award-winning doctors who have proven their knowledge and skills in this field. Start your journey towards achieving your best skin by contacting us today.
While it’s tempting to stay under the sun to get that perfect tan and much-needed vitamin D for the body, too much exposure to UV rays can cause you to sustain a sunburn. When you stay under the sun or other UV light sources for too long, your skin might start turning red and getting irritated.
The sun usually emits 3 wavelengths of ultraviolet light: UVA rays, UVB rays, and UVC rays. The third kind doesn’t reach the surface of the earth, but the other ones penetrate the skin. They often result in sunburns and alter the DNA on your skin, causing premature skin aging. Too many changes in the DNA increase your risk of actinic keratosis, skin cancers, and melanoma.
Most cases of sunburn can be treated at home using remedies like cool water and cold compress. But a severe sunburn might require immediate medical care for a more effective skin disease control.
You should schedule an appointment with a dermatologist if you notice these symptoms a few days after the skin was burnt:
Additionally, you need immediate medical attention if you’re sunburned and experience:
If your skin gets too much UV light exposure without proper sun protection, it’s crucial to treat sunburn as soon as you notice it. The first thing you should do is seek shelter from the sun so that the damage doesn't get any worse.
Although it may seem like a temporary condition, sunburn can cause long-lasting damage to the skin. In some cases, it might develop into sun poisoning, a more severe condition that causes itchiness, redness, hives, or even loss of consciousness. This kind of skin damage also increases the risk of skin cancer, so it’s critical to protect yourself from the sun.
Here are a few dermatologist-recommended tips for treating a sunburn on your own:
At Dermatology & Skin Health, our excellent dermatology services are guaranteed to be safe and effective, performed by the top doctors in their respective fields. Treat your skin problems by contacting us today.
A: Untreated sunburns have short-term and long-term effects. You will feel burning, blistering, itchiness, and pain in the sunburnt area until it heals. As for the long-term consequences, sun damage may develop into more serious conditions like melanoma, actinic keratosis, and skin cancer.
A: In some cases, the affected area of the skin might appear tanner than the rest once the sunburn heals. Tanning is a different type of skin damage caused by UV rays so make sure to always proceed with caution.
A: Higher SPF content means better protection against harmful UV rays, but using a sunscreen that has at least SPF 30 gives you enough protection. Make sure to reapply your sunscreen every few hours when heading out.
If you have severe sunburn on your arms and other parts of the body, schedule a consultation at Dermatology & Skin Health now. Our team specializes in a wide selection of medical treatments for mild to severe sunburns as well as other related skin problems, so you can trust us to provide you with the best solutions to soothe the sunburn and prevent serious complications.
Please fill out the request form on our site or give us a call at (603) 742-5556 (Dover & Newington), (978) 525-0100 (Peabody), (603) 965-3551 (Londonderry), or (603) 742-5556 (Bedford) to book an appointment. Get skin advice and treatments from our team of experts by getting in touch with us today.
If your desired appointment type or preferred provider is unavailable online, kindly call (978) 525-0100 for Peabody, MA and (603) 742-5556 for all New Hampshire locations. Alternatively please feel free to send us your request via the patient portal, or via email at info@dermskinhealth.com
*For medical dermatology appointments in MA please dial (978) 525-0100 or fill out the appointment request form above.
