When you hear the word “summer,” what’s the first thing you think of?
Many people say “barbecues” or “vacation” or “swimming pool.” For lots of people, though, the immediate answer is “sunburns.”
The warm weather of summer makes us all want to get outside and spend some time in the sun, but the sun can be dangerous.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “just five sunburns in the course of your life more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma.”
Sunburns can happen anywhere–in your car, on the job, while napping in your hammock–even on days when clouds seem to be blocking the sun.
Keep reading to learn how to tell if your sunburn is severe enough to merit medical attention, and if so, come into either of the Medics USA urgent care clinics in the Washington, D.C. area.
Not All Sunburns Are Created Equal
Sometimes you just get a little pink. Sometimes you’re red as a lobster. Sometimes you get such a severe sunburn that you experience symptoms that are far more painful. In these cases, the term sunburn is replaced with sun poisoning, a term used to refer to a burn from ultraviolet (UV) radiation that inflames your skin.
Pinkness/redness is common with all types of sun burns, but sun poisoning is accompanied with one or more of the following:
- Skin redness and blistering
- Pain and tingling
- Swelling
- Headache
- Fever and chills
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dehydration
If you experience one of these signs of sun poisoning, it’s important to take action right away. Your body is telling you that it’s “injured” and it needs treatment in order to recover.
Any of the following sun poisoning symptoms indicate severe injury, and you should come into one of our urgent care clinics right away:
- A sunburn that forms blisters, covers a large area, or is very painful
- Facial swelling
- Fever and chills
- Upset stomach
- Headache, confusion, or faintness
- Signs of dehydration
At Medics USA, we want you to have lots of fun this summer, but we also want you to stay safe and healthy. Whether it’s dehydration or sunburn, our urgent care clinics can handle anything summer throws your way! Book an appointment today.