Second degree sunburn

The most serious kind of damage inflicted by the sun rays is known as second degree sunburn; this usually occurs when the skin is exposed directly to the action of the ultraviolets without the intermediary of a sunscreen or some form of protection cream. Second degree sunburn can happen more or less often and even accidentally if you are caught unprotected under the action of the sun light. There are some people who present a higher risk of severe sunburn and here we included people with freckles, red, fair-haired and fair-skinned people. In such cases even a short term exposure to the sun rays can cause second degree sunburn.

You can recognize a second degree sunburn by the heat felt at the skin surface long after the exposure time as well as by the extremely red looks of the body. Swelling, blisters and pains independent of touch are other frequent symptoms of second degree sunburn. The problem is that this kind of affection involves the damage of the deep tissues where the nervous terminations lie. Fever and vomiting episodes could also accompany the condition particularly if the patient is dehydrated too. Another nasty consequence of the second degree sunburn which you may have got camping out is the risk of developing secondary infections at the skin level, which is why the treatment should not be delayed.

Depending on the severity of the second degree sunburn, it can be treated at home or it may require special medical care. For home treatment, cool showers, compresses and proper hydration are the first measures to take. However, it is good to know that immersing the affected body area in ice-cold water is totally wrong as you can damage the tissues even further. Ask at the local drug store for some creams or gels especially designed as soothing and anti-inflammatory products for sunburn. Even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen can help one alleviate the pain.

Blister formation is common for second degree sunburn, and extra care needs to be taken with them. Thus, never break them as you increase the risk of infections. If they are already broken, then, make sure not to apply any soothing agent on exposed tissue as you could impair the healing process. Most often it is recommended to consult the doctor in order to be prescribed a special treatment for the condition. Last but not least, the safest way to avoid the unpleasant symptoms of second degree sunburn is to prevent it in the first place.