How many of you know what a sunburn is firsthand? Most likely almost everything! When we get dressed and wince from the unpleasant sensations of pain after sunbathing, we scold ourselves because we realize that we did something wrong. Maybe if we correctly and accurately understood what happens to the skin, while we carelessly expose it to UV rays for an extra 10 minutes, we would not be so reckless and careless.

What is sunburn?

Sunburn is a skin reaction to overexposure to UV rays and an indicator of serious damage. In less than 10 minutes of intense sun exposure, the skin activates its defense system against its worst enemy. The first indicator of damage is redness. This is an inflammatory response of the body, signaling the need for recovery, and the result is the expansion of blood vessels. At this point, the skin begins to lose moisture, becoming tight. Little by little, the skin cells will begin to thicken and the production of melanin pigment will begin to prevent UV rays from penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin and damaging the DNA of the cells. Exposed to excessive exposure to sunlight, the skin triggers the processes of hypo- and hyperpigmentation, which manifests itself in uneven pigment spots (light or dark).

Our bodies can do a great job of repairing damage on their own in minimal doses, but the more and longer UV rays are exposed to the skin, the more serious damage they can provoke, and the more difficult it is for the skin to cope with them on its own. The most dangerous damage will be damage to the DNA of skin cells and its repair mechanisms, which can lead to skin cancer.

What is peeling for?

After-sun peeling is needed in order to get rid of damaged cells that can “lose control of themselves” and become cancerous! In view of this danger, all damaged cells are ordered to “commit suicide” through repair mechanisms. This mass exodus of cells from the damaged upper layer of the skin occurs through peeling, and in return, other cells from the underlying layers of the skin will come.

What to do with a sunburn?

First of all, get out of the sun immediately. Drink water, because your skin and body as a whole can be dehydrated. If numerous painful spots appear on the skin, contact the medical center immediately for help. It is very important to calm the inflammation and try to reduce the damage before it reaches the deeper layers of the skin.

Take a cold bath (without adding any bath products), then let your skin dry without toweling. Avoid using oily creams that will keep the skin from cooling down and thus may only worsen the situation. It is best to apply a generous layer of soothing after-sun gel to all reddened areas of the skin and stay away from the sun and heat. When choosing a product to apply to burnt skin, look at the composition, choose those products that contain: licorice, lavender, cucumber, cloves, yucca – they will reduce inflammation, pain and redness. The ideal ingredient in a soothing remedy would be Japanese alder – it is great at accelerating the recovery of skin cell DNA from damage from UV rays. The complex of Japanese alder and algae or hyaluronic acid will be a great moisturizer,

And, of course, it is categorically impossible to go out into the sun in the coming days. Remember: Your skin is still recovering from damage and direct sunlight is simply contraindicated for a few days. Do not forget also that the skin “records” any information received and even the finest restorative after-sun products do not guarantee you the absence of irreparable damage: premature aging or even skin cancer that may appear later. Next time, before you decide “just another 10 minutes to lie down and sunbathe”, be more reasonable and attentive!