These 5 Symptoms Mean Your Sun Burn Is Actually Sun Poisoning

Jul 23, 2018

It is unfortunate that summer comes with its fair share of trouble; sunburns can be serious. Of course, slathering your body with sunscreen is one way of going around this predicament. However, we still cannot escape the occasional burn.

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Additionally, having your skin exposed to the harmful UV rays is not only detrimental to your skin but also impacts your general wellbeing as well. And while there are a variety of home remedies that you could utilize to treat your sunburn, if you are not feeling well, it could be something else entirely that is causing the problem. If you experienced a sunburn that was more than average, chances are that you have sun poisoning.

Sun poisoning is described as experiencing severe sunburn with the following symptoms.

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Regular sunburns are characterized by a red and inflamed skin that is sensitive to touch and is painful under light pressure. With sun poisoning, however, the area will still be painful even when not touched. The pain feels like a prickling sensation.

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A fever usually signifies that your body is operating on overdrive. Therefore, it is the most significant symptom of sun poisoning. Also, look out for other flu-like symptoms such as chills or headaches.

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This is another symptom of sun poisoning due to spending too much time in the sun. With this, you might feel nauseous, lightheaded, or a constant sense of fatigue.

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Sun poisoning causes pain all around your body and this includes your joints and muscles as well. And even though sun poisoning is associated with pain, when the pain becomes unbearable or your face starts swelling, it is time to see a physician.

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The above symptoms of sun poisoning can culminate into a large rash, or painful, yellow blisters. Nevertheless, this post also includes a few home remedies – near the end of the article – that you can follow to make a quick and successful recovery.

Enjoying summer and not getting a sunburn is almost unheard of. However, here are a couple of things you could do to prevent a sunburn.

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You have to stay hydrated throughout the day, even when you are not under the sun.

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Even though we all hate having to cover up during the hot weather, it might just save you from sun poisoning. As such, ensure that you have your hat, sunglasses, or even an umbrella if you know you will spend some time under the sun.

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Not only should you carry your sunscreen with you to ensure that you apply it frequently while under the sun, ensure that you do not miss your hands or feet.

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The sun is usually at its peak between 10 am and 2 pm, and this is when you should avoid it to lower your chances of getting sun poisoning.

If your sunburn is very bad, seeing a doctor may be necessary. However, here are some home remedies you can try first:

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This will prevent the affected areas from getting additional damage.

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This will help with the fever symptoms as it will help your body flush out the toxins. Drinking a lot of water enhances recovery.

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Aloe vera has been widely used to treat sunburn symptoms, and with great success. You could also consider applying milk, oatmeal, and apple cider vinegar to aid in recovery.

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Sunburns come with a lot of pain. Over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen will ease the pain and inflammation.

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Instead of directly applying ice to the burned area, use a cold compress to soothe the pain.

As much as we love our summers, it is imperative to take the necessary measures to ensure that we do not end up with sun poisoning. And with the searing heat that this summer has come with, following this guide might save you a lot of agony.

Show this to your friends and your family to make sure they know how to deal with sun burns and sun poisoning!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!