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Conditions

Sunburn

Sun ageing

You make enjoy eating lobster, but you certainly won’t enjoy looking like one. Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) light overheating and blistering your skin. Your skin produces melanin to protect itself against the sun’s harmful rays, but though you see this as suntan, it cannot protect you against the sun’s other harmful side effects, such as premature ageing and skin cancer. Whilst redness and blistering of the skin are common, sunburn can also cause dizziness and headaches, as well as making you feel sick and lethargic. This is not the best way to spend your holiday. If you’ve already baked yourself and are looking for treatment then you should cool the skin by sponging it with tepid water and drink plenty of water to replace the lost fluid. You can also apply moisturiser and after sun cream to relieve the tightness, but if your burn is severe you may need to see your GP.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

hello, im 15 years of age and im going on holiday next year in July, i dont know which sunscreen to use to protect my skin as i have red hair and fair skin! any help?

Hello, I recently went to Greece and used factor 20 suncare lotion, I feel asleep in the sun for 4 hours and then my leg went very dark and burnt. I had a massive scab from it, picked it a bit and now I have white blothces on my breast and down my leg and has left a dent in my leg, is this skin pigmentation? I really don't like it, I am using bio-oil I hope this helps, to reduce it or get rid of it I heard it may go away as I'm only 20. Please help.

Thank you

im 14 and i have had trouble with sunburn most of my life as i have very sensitive skin. i use suncream with a high factor but i still manage to get burnt. when i do, i find it very hard to get rid of even when i use after sun. i find it extremely painful when it occures and oftern find it spoils my day. i wondered if there is suncream that can help protect me more and if i do get sunburnt, how can i get rid of it easier. thanks.

hi there im a 19yo girl and iv recently noticed a small (about 3mm)brown lump on my shoulder. im hardley out in the sun. i gave it a bit of a pick and it bled quite alot so im not sure if i should make a big thing of it or not

Hey Im 17 and just come back from tenerife it was 35 degrees out there and i have got very bad sunburn i normally get it as iv got fair skin but i always put loation on properly and regulary and i have very bad sunburn on my left boob and its on a scar from chickin poks and its gone very deep and its all pussy and bleeding and its very itchy and sor wat should i do ?..xx

I'm nearly 20 yrs old, and a male, and I LOVE soaking up the sun and getting a golden bronze tan. The reason I don't use sunscreen is because I believe it will stop you from getting a tan. I use tanning oil instead, which increases the tan.

And by the way I think there's a mistake on the top sentance "You MAKE enjoy eating lobster, but you certainly won’t enjoy looking like one".

Both myself and my husband have got sunburnt,we were to busy making sure that our grandaughter didn't burn we did'nt pay attention to our selves.The worse problem is that we have now got lips that are covered in what looks like green scabs.Any advice please.?

I have a question for the doctors with regard to sunscreen. I tan very easily and tend to go out in the sun without sunscreen in this country. If I am out in the sun for a long time I can go a bit pink but this turns to brown within about 24 hours. If, however, I apply sunscreen then I tend to burn badly. My skin is quite oily and I apply body lotion after every bath/shower, also I lived for about 2-3 years in Hong kong when I was 7 and do not remember applying sunscreen then as it was not suh a big thing. Would this have caused a change in my skin structure at that time that now protects me against burning? I am a bit confused as to why I seem to be ok without sunscreen but applying it makes me burn. Perhaps you can help. I am now 46.

I've used a suncream called P20 for about 10 years now. It's quite expensive, about £20 a bottle, but you only use it once a day. It's waterproof, non-greasy, and you NEVER burn!
Seriously people, use it. You can get it in Superdrug and ASDA!
Amazing stuff!

Hi, My problem is im alergic to Glyco, I cannot use anything, except Hydomal cream, or Dermol (which i wash in Daily. As for going out in the sun, I CAN`t, As i`m to afraid i wll burn. I`ve always had this problem, Even bubble baths are out. This allergy also extends to Perscribed medication from my doctor. Is there anyhope, that one day i might be cured.!!




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