Summer in Australia is spent outdoors, hitting the beach, going on picnics and backyard BBQs. But with summer also comes the likelihood of sunburn which can really dampen this usually fun and enjoyable time of year.
The impact of sunburn can also be extremely serious. Sunburn occurs because of the skin’s reaction to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The danger lies in that you can’t see or feel UV radiation so you can never be really sure about how much damage the sun is causing your skin cells.
During summer, sunburn can occur in less than 15 minutes and take days to heal. To protect yourself, we always encourage a combination of slip, slop, slap and seek shade where possible.
With temperatures already rising, here is some advice on how to treat sunburn so the impact of the burn is lessened and it can heal more quickly:
- Gently apply cool or cold compresses, or bathe the area in cool water
- When bathing, avoid using soap as this may irritate your skin
- After a cool shower or bath, if your skin is not too painful, apply moisturiser to soothe the skin. Consider a product containing vitamin C, vitamin E or coconut oil and reapply every few hours. This won’t stop the burnt skin from peeling off, but it will help boost the moisture content of the skin beneath
- Do not apply body butter, scrub, pick or peel the skin or break blisters
- Keep your fluids up - sunburn can draw fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body and spending time in the sun can also lead to dehydration
- Don’t wait to medicate - taking a dose of ibuprofen can cut back swelling and redness and will help treat the symptoms for heatstroke
- Try and stay out of the sun until your skin is healed. If you do go back in the sun; apply sunscreen, keep to the shade and make sure you drink enough water to keep you hydrated
There is no cure for sunburn except time and patience. Treatment aims to help manage the symptoms while the body heals.
Sunburn and other heat-related illnesses claim the lives of hundreds of people each year. If the summer heat has got to you or your family, here is what to do:
- Get the person to a cool area and lay them down
- Remove outer clothing and cover their skin with cool water or wet cloths
- Increase fluid intake if they are fully conscious
- The time limit for recovery should be no longer than 20 minutes prior to seeking medical attention
- Seek medical advice from your nearest GP/medical centre
If you or someone in your family has been out in the sun or is feeling unwell after their commute home from work, don’t wait to the next day to see a GP. Call 13-SICK and a National Home Doctor Service doctor will be available to make a bulk-billed house call to your door.
