From the Guidelines
Sun poisoning is a severe form of sunburn characterized by redness, pain, swelling, and blistering of the skin, often accompanied by systemic symptoms, and individuals with fair skin are at increased risk, as supported by studies such as 1 and 1. The initial signs of sun poisoning include:
- Intense redness and pain in sun-exposed areas
- Blistering, swelling, and skin tenderness Systemic symptoms may develop, including:
- Fever (typically 101-102°F)
- Chills
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dizziness
- Fatigue Some people may experience confusion or faintness. Treatment involves cooling the skin with cold compresses or cool baths, staying hydrated with water and electrolyte-containing fluids, taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6 hours) or acetaminophen (650mg every 4-6 hours), and applying aloe vera gel to soothe the skin, as these measures can help alleviate symptoms and prevent further complications, as noted in general medical knowledge. It is essential to avoid further sun exposure until healed and prevent future episodes by:
- Using broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+)
- Wearing protective clothing
- Limiting sun exposure during peak hours (10am-4pm) Sun poisoning occurs when UV radiation damages skin cells, triggering an inflammatory response that causes both local and systemic symptoms, with fair-skinned individuals being particularly susceptible, as discussed in 1.
From the Research
Signs and Symptoms of Sun Poisoning
The signs and symptoms of sun poisoning, also known as sunburn, can vary in severity. According to the studies, the common symptoms include:
Treatment and Management
The treatment of sunburn is primarily symptomatic, as the damage to epidermal cells is already done 2. The use of pharmacologic agents such as corticosteroids, NSAIDs, antioxidants, antihistamines, and emollients has been studied, but the results are often conflicting and show little to no clinically important effect on the sunburn reaction 2, 3, 4. However, some studies suggest that combinations of oral NSAIDs and topical corticosteroids may have a synergistic effect in reducing UVB-induced erythema and skin blood flow 5.
Prevention
Prevention of sunburn is crucial, and the use of sunscreens is an integral part of a comprehensive photoprotection strategy against ultraviolet-mediated damage 6.