Guide To Treating And Preventing Sun Poisoning
Sun poisoning is an allergic reaction to too much ultraviolet radiation. It presents as severe sunburn, but symptoms can progress. Also known as polymorphic light eruption, sun poisoning can be activated by certain medications or exposure to plants like wild parsnip and lime. Symptoms include itchy or painful red bumps that raise into patches on the skin. These bumps can progress to scale, bleed, crust over, or turn into hives or blisters. Often accompanying sun poisoning is a fever, nausea, chills, headache, dehydration, and in extreme cases, fainting. Several risk factors enhance an individual’s chances of developing sun poisoning including fair-skinned individuals, living near the equator, and taking certain medications. Thankfully, there are treatment options for sun poisoning. Learn about them now.
Stay Out Of The Sun
Symptoms of sun poisoning can begin to clear up in as few as one to two days if the individual can stay out of the sun. Staying out of the sun is not only imperative if an individual has already developed sun poisoning, but also as a preventative to developing it. The sun’s most powerful ultraviolet rays occur between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. If an individual cannot completely limit their sun exposure, it is important to use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least thirty, and wear protective clothing during these hours. Some fabrics have built-in sunscreen adding extra protection from the sun. It is also important to try to build sun exposure gradually. This is especially important during the changing of seasons when individuals may not have been outdoors much and when vacationing in sunny destinations.
Keep reading to learn more about how to treat sun poisoning.