The summer may be winding down however the suns rays are not! Just because the weather may not be as hot does not mean you cannot get sunburned.

Did you know sunburn is the main cause of melanoma cancer? Melanoma cancer is the worlds most common form of cancer. Use these tips to stay away from sunburn!

What is sunburn?

The sun releases three types of ultraviolet rays, UVA, UVB, UVC.  UVA & UVB are the two rays that make it to the earth’s surface. These rays contain radiation, and when the skin is exposed to radiation it burns.

Sunburn is an injury on a cellular and that is what makes it very dangerous. The radiation from the sun takes some time to show up on our body, which could be why people don’t think it is that big of a deal. When you get sunburned, you actually increase your chances of getting skin cancer by three times.

Complications of sunburn

If you have a mild case of sunburn you will notice symptoms such as:

• Redness on skin
• pain to the touch in irritated skin
• dryness
• itchiness
• peeling

If you have a more severe sunburn this could include:

• Blisters
• boils
• puss
• extreme skin damage
• dehydration

Severe sunburn damage is a serious matter, and if you or a loved one is suffering from it you should take them to your nearest urgent care!

How to beat sunburn

To beat sunburn, you have to be aware of the amount of time you will be spending in the sun. If you are going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, remember to bring sunblock. Sunblock the best way to combat sunblock.

Remember if you are exercising, swimming or sweating, you should apply sunblock every 15-20 mins regardless of the SPF. Water and sweat rubs the sunblock off of the body leaving your skin exposed to the suns rays.

Another way to get ahead of sunburn is to check the UV index. The UV index is on a scale of 1-10 and it shows how harmful the suns rays are that day. If the index is anything above a 6, you should be applying sunblock.

If you have any sunburn-related issues, AFC Urgent Care Burlington can treat you! Stop by today!