Sun Poisoning - The Worst Progression of a Sunburn

Sunburn is never a welcomed problem. Let's face it, they leave us red-faced, hot and stinging, and in some cases, we even find it hard to move! But few of us have ever heard of Sun Poisoning, or even know what it is!

Sun Poisoning, or 'Photodermatitis', is basically your skins allergic reaction to overexposure of sun. Sun Poisoning may seem much more serious, but essentially, it's the same as sunburn. However, in more severe reactions, the symptoms can become very uncomfortable and sometimes even result in medical treatment.

The symptoms are identical to what's typically known as 'Phase 3 Sunburn'. If you get Sun Poisoning, you can often show signs of nausea, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, fever, dizziness, fatigue, headache, chills, fluid loss, and electrolyte imbalance. As well as this, Sun Poisoning sufferers often have blisters on the skin, skin eruptions, and in some cases, severe burns have turned a purplish color.

It's important that you stay hydrated during this stage. If your symptoms are minor, and limited mainly to discomfort, then try classic remedies to relieve the pain such as taking cool not cold baths, and using Aloe Vera to moisturize the skin, this also helps to draw the heat out of the skin. If you don't have any Aloe Vera on hand, two other housewives secrets are tea and milk. If you have enough used teabags to cover the affected area, mix with ice (never use just brewed tea-bags) and drape over the affected area. The coolness of the teabags will help relieve the hotness under the skin, but the tea itself acts as an antioxidant, which helps draw out the heat itself, relieving discomfort. Milk works in a similar way, and is often applied with a clean cloth or gauze to the affected area. The milk forms a protein film over the skin which helps ease the pain. It's important you avoid using oils or anything that contains alcohol or potential irritants, like fragrances and exfoliants.

If your symptoms are more serious, and the burn is more painful, you may begin to exhibit signs of nausea, fever, dizziness, and some of the other symptoms listed above. At any point, if you suffer from extreme pain or vomiting or if your fever grows too hot (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit), head to an emergency room. In more serious cases, a doctor can prescribe an oral steroid to reduce inflammation or administer IV fluids to restore hydration.

Treating all these symptoms is just one step, but it's easier in the long run to prevent any kind of sun-reaction at all but taking the time to cover up, wear sunscreen and look after yourself. We all think it will never happen to us, but when it does, we regret not having taken a few moments to apply some sun lotion, and avoid being in direct sunlight for too long. Conditions such as Sun Poisoning have been known to cause skin cancer and, in rare cases, have been known to be fatal, but the steps to prevent getting such symptoms are very easy and only take a few minutes to perform. So don't take the chance, take care of yourself.