Sun poisoning is a condition caused by severe sunburn. The major cause of sun poisoning is direct and extended exposure to UV rays from the sun. Your skin can’t tolerate continuous exposure to high-intensity sunlight. There are different types of sun poisoning diseases. These types are more severe than mild sunburn and require medical treatment.
AFC Urgent Care Elizabeth provides treatment and diagnosis for sunburns and minor sun poisoning. Sun poisoning can become an emergency condition, so it’s important to be aware of any warning signs. Visit our walk-in center for urgent medical care today.
Symptoms of Sun Poisoning
Sun poisoning has similar symptoms to sunburn. But since it is a severe condition, symptoms can often be more painful. The symptoms of sun poisoning include:
- Fever
- Peeling or blistering skin
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Nausea or vomiting
- Severe redness and pain
- Headaches
- Fainting
- Dizziness
Treating Sun Poisoning
To treat the condition, the doctor will likely recommend you to take a bath with cold water. Furthermore, they will prescribe lotion to your skin. The lotion will help with the peeling skin while moisturizing it properly. Also, you also need to drink a lot of fluids to recover from dry skin.
The doctor will also recommend the following treatments:
- Oral steroids for swelling and pain
- Topical antibiotics for infection
- Intravenous (IV) fluids
- Steroid creams for painful sunburns
- Prescription pain medication
You will need some time to recover from sun poisoning. During this period, you have to avoid sun exposure. In severe conditions, you have to stay in the hospital’s burn unit for proper care.
Preventing Sun Poisoning
The preventive measures for sun poisoning are similar to a sunburn. Here are some measures you can take to avoid sun poisoning:
- Apply sunscreen to the skin exposed to the sun. Choose a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. For best results, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house. Also, reapply the lotion after every two hours.
- Avoid leaving home during peak hours in the summer. The peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. have high UV radiation.
- Avoid medication with side effects
- Avoid tanning beds
- Wear protective clothing such as sunglasses, gloves, and a hat.
- Wear full clothes such as long sleeves shirts to avoid direct sunlight.
Conclusion
Sun poisoning is a critical condition of sunburn. Treating the condition takes time because the high-intensity UV ray from the sun absorbs moisture from the skin. It takes a week to treat mild sun poisoning. However, in severe cases, the doctor will ask you to stay in the hospital’s burn unit for several weeks.
If you have painful or itchy skin after extended exposure to the sun, you should immediately visit the emergency care unit. The doctor will diagnose your sun poisoning and start treatment. Delay in the diagnosis and treatment can increase the severity of the condition.
