Symptom Definition

Sunburns are first-degree burns: only the epidermis is affected. The first symptom is redness, which appears 3 to 5 hours after exposure to the sun and worsens over the next 12 to 24 hours. The redness is usually accompanied by pain and burning, followed by scaling. In the most severe cases, there is severe pain, blistering and heat stroke. Although most cases are not serious, it is important to avoid sunburn as it increases the risk of:

• Skin cancer (there are several types of skin cancer, most are easily treated, but sunburn increases the risk of developing a serious type, melanoma)
• Sight problems (cataracts, which can lead to blindness)
• Wrinkles and other age-related skin changes
• Some factors, such as having fair skin, fair hair, being in the mountains or at the beach, and taking certain types of medication (e.g. doxycycline), increase the risk of sunburn.