Fact Checked
Sun poisoning is also known as sun rashes or sunburns which is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. The skin can feel dull and itchy. A severe sunburn or red rash requires immediate treatment.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWTMLQRrz9I”]Symptoms of sun poisoning
- The affected skin feels warm or hot to the touch
- The area becomes pink or reddened
- There is pain, tenderness or itchiness of the area
- Development of small blisters filled with fluid that can break
- Swelling of the affected area
- Headache, chills, fever and fatigue if sun poisoning is severe
- Symptoms of sunburn usually appear in a few hours after exposure to the sun.
- A sunburned eye feels painful or gritty.
The affected skin feels warm or hot to the touch
Treatment
- Remove clothing that is clingy or tight. Expose the affected area to air, but if the person is in a public place, wear baggy or loose clothing that can prevent further irritation on the skin.
- Wet a towel or face cloth in cold water and place it over the affected areas for at least 15 minutes every day to lessen the itchiness and heat. Another alternative is sprinkling baking soda or Epsom salt in the wet towel to clean the skin.
- Take a shower using cool water or apply damp towels on the skin to make it cool. Avoid placing wet towels on open sores or blisters. Ice packs can also be added to the bath to numb the pain. Pat the skin dry, avoid rubbing the skin or scraping the skin or the blisters.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to lessen the pain and inflammation.
- Apply a cold milk compress on the affected area. Cold milk soothes the skin and minimizes redness, burning and inflammation caused by prolonged exposure to sun. Apply the cold milk and keep it on the skin for at least 20 minutes. Rinse it off using cold water, so that the skin will feel fresh and smooth.
- Extract gel from a fresh aloe vera plant. Apply the gel over the sunburned areas and let it remain on the skin for at least 30 minutes. Apply aloe vera gel on the affected areas before going to bed at night and going out of the house to minimize making the condition worse by further damaging the skin.
- Wear protective clothing especially when going out in the sun and avoid exposure to the strongest rays of sun usually between 10AM-4PM.
- Mix baking soda and a few drops of water. Mix them well until it becomes a paste and then apply it on the rashes and pain caused by sun poisoning.
- Apply green tea on rashes and blisters at least two times every day for the best results.