Despite the name, sun poisoning does not necessarily mean that you have been poisoned by the sun and that you urgently need a remedy. A sunburn that is so bad it has flu-like symptoms is called sun poisoning.
Other than engaging in activities that require exposure to the sun, there are some things that can increase your risk of developing sun poisoning. They consist of:
- Residing near the equator or in high altitudes
- Having fair skin
- Taking oral contraceptives or antibiotics
- Undergoing chemical peels
Aside from being bugged by some unfavorable signs and symptoms, sun poisoning also increases your chance of battling premature skin aging, skin infections and most especially skin cancer!
So if you love staying under the scorching sun and you are not fond of applying sunscreen, you’re at risk of winding up with sun poisoning and the complications it brings with it.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of sun poisoning:
Reddening
Definitely, your skin will appear red if you are suffering from sun poisoning. It’s also something that can make your face redder due to the fact that friction or pressure on affected skin can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.
Rash
It’s very much possible for you to end up with what’s referred to by dermatologists as polymorphic light eruption that can cause red bumps that itch like crazy to appear. Your risk of encountering polymorphic light eruption is higher if you are extremely sensitive to the sun.
Blisters
Health authorities say that sun poisoning can cause second-degree burns, which is something that involves burning of both the epidermis and dermis. This is why you may wind up with blisters that you should never attempt to pop as you may develop secondary skin infections that can make matters worse.
Swelling
Due to the fact that sun poisoning entails severe skin damage, your immune system springs into action in an attempt to deal with the problem. Such can cause swelling, which is an indicator that damaged skin areas are being healed by your body.
Fever
Aside from swelling, another telltale sign that your immune system is in high-alert mode is an increase in the core temperature of your body. This is why you may have fever when battling sun poisoning.
Chills
It’s not unlikely for your sun poisoning-related fever to be coupled with chills. While it’s true that your skin may feel warm to the touch because of skin damage and also your fever, it is very much possible for you to feel cold and shiver.
Headache
You may also experience a pounding headache if you are suffering from sun poisoning. You can put the blame on things such as glare, prolonged exposure to the UV rays of the sun and the next entry.
Dehydration
Sun poisoning is also something that can leave you dehydrated. Some of the signs and symptoms of dehydration include sunken eyes, dry mouth, excessive thirst, dry skin, irritability, low urine output and a rapid heart rate. Whether or not you have sun poisoning, it’s important to drink about 2 liters of water per day.
Nausea
The combination of dehydration and fever can leave you feeling sick to your stomach. Vomiting is a possibility, too.
Dizziness
According to health authorities, sun poisoning is something that can also cause dizziness. It’s even possible for you to feel faint or even pass out.
The above are the signs and symptoms of sun poisoning.
So how is it treated? Some of the things that you may do at home is to apply cold compresses or soothing aloe vera gel on affected areas. You may also take OTC painkilling medications.
A doctor may prescribe topically-applied antibiotics to keep skin infections at bay. If you are severely dehydrated, you may be given fluids intravenously. Severe cases of sun poisoning may sometimes warrant being admitted to a hospital’s burn unit.
