What is Sunburn?
The sun is a star that accounts for 99.8% of the solar system’s mass, sustains almost all of life on earth, and is over 5,000 degrees C. It is understandable, therefore, that overexposure to the sun can cause skin to burn. Sunburn is the burning of skin tissue that results from overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. While moderate amounts of sunlight can result in a suntan, excessive exposure leads to sunburn. Prolonged and repeated sunburns can cause aging of the skin, loss of skin elasticity, and skin cancer. When a person gets a sunburn, they might experience redness, blisters, pain, swelling, itching, chills, headache, fever, and nausea. People with sensitive skin may get a sunburn after fewer than 5 minutes of exposure to sunlight, and severe sunburns are treated like first-degree burns, requiring the attention of a specialist.
How can I treat Sunburn?
Traditional Chinese medicine considers sunburn to be a trapping of damp heat in the skin that must be treated by releasing the heat and soothing the accompanying pain. This is accomplished through topical herbal therapy and acupuncture. Dietary treatment includes not overeating and consuming cooling foods such as cucumber, celery broccoli, watermelon, cantaloupe, pears, apples, lentils, and mushrooms. Other remedies include drinking a glass of water hourly, drinking a mixture of pineapple and black cherry juice, applying a layer of plain yogurt to the burn area, and applying aloe vera gel to the burn area. It is also recommended to practice stress release meditations to facilitate the body healing itself. What is most helpful, however, is to prevent sunburns entirely through the use of UVA sunscreens with an SPF factor of 30 to 50 and limiting exposure to the sun.
What should I avoid in my lifestyle for Sunburn?
When one has a sunburn, they should avoid oily and greasy foods, spicy and barbequed foods, and dairy products, except for yogurt. Also, it is best to avoid coffee, alcohol, strenuous activities, and further exposure to the sun and heat.
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