sunburn
Sophie Matzik is a freelance writer for the medical team.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Sunburn (dermatitis solaris) is an acute inflammation of the skin caused by too much sunlight or UV radiation from other sources. Fair-skinned people are particularly vulnerable. A slight sunburn shows up as reddening of the skin, a strong sunburn, on the other hand, causes blistering on the skin and can even leave scars. Repeated sunburn also increases the risk of skin cancer. Read everything you need to know about sunburn here.
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. L59L55
Sunburn: description
Sunburn (dermatitis solaris) is an acute inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin, which is accompanied by visible reddening of the skin and even blistering. The cause is too much UV radiation (especially UV-B radiation) - regardless of whether it comes from the sun or an artificial source of radiation.
The radiation damage primarily affects the epidermis, i.e. the top layer of skin. But inflammation can also occur in the layer underneath, the dermis. Repeated cases of sunburn over several years also cause the skin to age faster and can ultimately lead to skin cancer.
Skin types and self-protection time
The different skin types are differently susceptible to sunburn:
People with very light skin, reddish-blonde hair, blue or green eyes and freckles are skin type I. Unprotected they can only stay in the sun for five to ten minutes (self-protection time) before their skin turns red - signs of sunburn. The skin practically does not turn brown at all.
Skin type II is characterized by blonde to dark blonde hair, light skin and blue or green eyes. The self-protection time here is ten to 20 minutes.
Dark-blonde to brown-haired people with darker skin color correspond to skin type III. You can spend 20 to 30 minutes in the sun without protection without reddening your skin.
Skin type IV people have dark brown to black hair and brownish tinted skin. Your self-protection time is 30 to 40 minutes.
Children: Particularly at risk for sunburn
It is particularly easy for children to get sunburn because their skin is much more sensitive than that of adults. This is especially true for babies and toddlers because they still have very thin and pigment-poor skin.
In children, the face, arms and legs are most often affected by sunburn, as these areas are often exposed to direct sun without protection in summer. Also, children are more likely to experience sunstroke or heat exhaustion.
Sun allergy
A sun allergy must be distinguished from sunburn: after exposure to the sun, small wheals, itchy spots or blisters form on the skin. Acne-like nodules are seen in adolescents.
Sunburn: symptoms
Sunburn is a burn that occurs, for example, after skin contact with fire. The severity of the sunburn depends on the intensity and duration of the sun exposure as well as individual requirements (such as skin type). There are three degrees of severity:
Grade 1: Slight sunburn; the affected areas of the skin are reddened and overheated, tense and are often slightly swollen. The sunburn itches and burns.
Grade 2: If you have a second degree sunburn, blisters form on the skin. Later the skin begins to peel.
Degree 3: The 3rd degree sunburn corresponds to a severe burn. The top layers of the skin are destroyed and peel off. The wounds usually heal with scarring.
In the case of extensive second or third degree sunburn, fever and general symptoms can also occur. You must not open the burn blisters yourself, otherwise a bacterial infection may join the sunburn.
The skin of the lips is very sensitive to too much UV radiation. Redness and swelling, especially on the lower lip, appear within hours. Sunburn on the lips can also cause blisters, scabs, flaking, and burning pain. In general, sunburn on the face is particularly uncomfortable.
Sunburn: duration
Sunburn shows its first symptoms about six to eight hours after exposure to the sun. The symptoms peak after 24 to 36 hours and then subside again after one to two weeks.
Sunburn: causes and risk factors
Sunlight consists of rays of different wavelengths. Ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) is responsible for sunburn. Depending on the wavelength, it is divided into:
- UV-A radiation (wavelength: 400 to 315 nm (nanometers)
- UV-B radiation (315 to 280 nm)
- UV-C radiation (280 to 100 nm)
The shorter the wavelength, the more energetic and harmful the radiation.
Sunburn is mainly caused by UV-B radiation. It damages cells in the epidermis, whereupon they release inflammatory messenger substances (inflammatory mediators such as chemokines, prostaglandins). Within a few hours, these trigger inflammation in the underlying skin layer (dermis). Sunburn occurs with the typical symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching and pain.
The shorter-wave UV-A radiation can penetrate deeper into the skin and eyes than UV-B radiation. It strengthens the UV-B effect and is also involved in the aging process of the skin.
UV-C radiation is even more dangerous and would cause even more sunburn than UV-B light. However, it is practically completely filtered out in the upper layers of the earth's atmosphere, so it does not reach the earth's surface.
Sunburn: influencing factors
Whether you get sunburn and how severe it is depends, among other things, on how long the sun's rays act on the skin. Skin type also plays an important role: fair-skinned people get sunburn faster than people with a darker skin tone because they have fewer pigments in their skin that block the sun's rays.
Certain regions of the body are also more sensitive than others. Parts of the body that are used to the sun, such as arms and hands, are therefore less prone to sunburn than areas of the skin that normally get less sun (such as the soles of the feet, thighs, buttocks, etc.).
Sunburn & solarium
Tanning in solariums is often considered to be less harmful than sunbathing. However, artificial UV radiation in tanning beds has the same acute and long-term effects on the body as natural UV light from the sun (faster skin aging, sunburn, increased risk of skin cancer).
With pre-tanning in solariums, one often wants to prepare the skin for the summer sun. However, many solariums only emit UV-A radiation: You will then get tan, but the skin's own UV protection (as a prevention against sunburn) hardly builds up, because sufficient UV-B radiation is required for this.
That being said, there is also a risk of developing skin cancer with tanned skin.
Sunburn: examinations and diagnosis
Not every sunburn needs to be examined by a doctor. A slight sunburn can also be treated independently. However, a visit to a doctor is advisable in the following cases of sunburn:
- Redness and severe pain
- Blistering
- headache
- Nausea and vomiting
If toddlers or babies get sunburn, you should definitely see a pediatrician.
The doctor first records the medical history (anamnesis). For example, he asks about the type and extent of the symptoms, when they occurred and whether and for how long the affected areas of the skin were exposed to unprotected UV radiation. This is followed by a physical examination in which the doctor carefully examines the skin. The diagnosis of sunburn can usually be made based on the anamnesis and the classic symptoms.
Sunburn: treatment
How sunburn is treated depends primarily on its severity.
In the case of a slight sunburn, it is usually sufficient to cool the affected areas of the skin. You can do this with a damp / cold compress, for example with cold chamomile or green tea, yoghurt or quark.
You can also use soothing lotions with dexpanthenol or calendula or cooling aloe vera lotions or gels. In the case of children, make sure that the preparations are suitable for this age group.
If necessary, a doctor can prescribe a corticosteroid ("cortisone") to reduce inflammation, which is applied topically - for example as a cream or lotion.
In the case of a second degree sunburn, a doctor should be consulted. This can puncture the burn blisters professionally. This will allow the liquid to come out and allow the bubbles to heal faster. You shouldn't open the blisters yourself, because then they can easily become infected.
In addition, if the sunburn is more severe, the doctor can put on a bandage with an antiseptic ointment and fatty gauze. For the pain and inflammation, he can also prescribe tablets, for example with the active ingredients ibuprofen or diclofenac.
Third degree sunburn is usually treated in hospital because there is a high risk of infection. Often the patient is given infusions with fluids and mineral salts. Medicines are also given, for example antibiotics for invading bacteria.
Sunburn - that helps against it
You can find more tips and therapy options in the text Sunburn - this helps against it.
Sunburn: disease course and prognosis
The prognosis for a sunburn depends on the severity of the burn. A slight sunburn usually heals within a few days and does not leave any permanent damage. In more severe cases of sunburn, the healing process takes longer and scars may remain.
Sunburn & Skin Cancer
Sunburn is often considered to be quite harmless - a fatal misjudgment: even if the superficial layers of skin regenerate again after the sunburn, traces of damage remain in deeper tissue layers. And the radiation damage of every sunburn that you get in the course of your life adds up. After all, it can develop into skin cancer, especially if you had severe sunburns as a child.
Further consequences of sunburn
UV rays cause damage to the skin even before sunburn is visible. Regular exposure to the sun makes the skin larger pores and less elastic and promotes the formation of blackheads and wrinkles.
Prevent sunburn
The most effective way to prevent sunburn is to stay out of the blazing sun, or just stay unprotected for a short time. You should stay in the shade, especially at lunchtime, when the UV radiation is most intense. Long clothing and a sun hat offer some protection against sunburn. The latter is also very important for another reason: Too much sunlight on the head can lead to sunstroke with symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and clouding of consciousness.
If you do sports, you should choose the morning or evening hours in summer, when the radiation intensity is lower.
Use a sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from sunburn and other radiation damage. However, this only works if you apply a sufficient amount of the lotion, at least 30 minutes before you go out in the sun. Repeat the application of lotion when you have sweated profusely and after swimming.
When staying in the water, caution is generally required: At a depth of one meter, 50 percent of the UV-B radiation and 80 percent of the UV-A radiation are measured compared to the radiation outside the water. So you can get sunburn (on your back, for example) while swimming and snorkeling. You usually notice this too late, because hardly any infrared light hits the skin under water (water absorbs this part of the solar radiation for the most part). However, the infrared would warm the skin and thus warn of an impending sunburn. So to protect yourself from sunburn in the water, you should choose a sunscreen that is not easy to wash off. For additional protection against sunburn, you should wear a t-shirt when diving or snorkeling.
The intensity of UV radiation increases with altitude and the closer you get to the equator. In the mountains or on the Mediterranean Sea, you are more likely to get sunburn than in valleys or in Finland.
The reflection of solar radiation should not be underestimated either: surfaces such as water, snow or sand reflect the UV radiation like a mirror, which intensifies it. For example, you can ride a pedal boat or get sunburned easily on the ski slopes.
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