It’s the time of the year when the UAE gets a lot of sun. However, a few “sun
worshippers” still brave the scourging heat. It is not uncommon to see people
who get sunburned during these days of the year.
Your skin can burn if it gets too much sun without proper protection like
sunscreen and clothes. To help heal and soothe stinging skin, it is important to
begin treating sunburn as soon as you notice it. The first thing you should do is
get out of the sun—and preferably stay indoors.
Once indoors, these dermatologists’ tips can help relieve the discomfort:
(Reference American Academy of Dermatology)
1. Take frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain.
As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry,
but leave a little water on your skin. Then, apply a moisturizer to help
trap the water in your skin. This can help ease the dryness.
2. Use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe
sunburned skin.
If a particular area feels especially uncomfortable, you may want to apply
a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription. Do not
treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine), as these may
irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.
3. Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling,
redness and discomfort.
4. Drink extra water. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away
from the rest of the body. Drinking extra water when you are sunburned
helps prevent dehydration.
5. If your skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal. Blistering skin means
you have a second-degree sunburn. You should not pop the blisters, as
blisters form to help your skin heal and protect you from infection.
6. Take extra care to protect sunburned skin while it heals. Wear
clothing that covers your skin when outdoors. Tightly-woven fabrics
work best. When you hold the fabric up to a bright light, you shouldn’t
see any light coming through.
Although it may seem like a temporary condition, sunburn—a result of skin
receiving too much exposure from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays—can cause
long-lasting damage to the skin. This damage increases a person’s risk for
getting skin cancer, making it critical to protect the skin from the sun. Excessive
sun exposure also leads to premature aging.
I have also noticed many kabayans coming to me for sun-induced skin damage
which are due to their current medications. Several medications like antibiotics,
uric acid and lipid (e.g. cholesterol) lowering agents may make you
photosensitive. That means you easily get sunburned even with low levels of
sunlight. It is important that you ask your doctors if your medications can lead
to photosensitivity. Your doctor may either discontinue them temporarily or
change them to other medications that do not have this side effect. If this
medication could not be discontinued, then you must totally avoid sun exposure
and use a broad spectrum sunblock with an SPF of at least 50 daily.
For questions about your sunburn or to learn how to better protect your skin
from the sun, see a dermatologist.
Dr. Benjamin B. Bince is a specialist dermatologist at The Medical City located on Al Diyafah
Street, Jumeirah First, beside Enoc Petrol Station, Dubai, UAE.
Contact No. 04-3434265, 055 135 4820 website: www.samatmc.ae
email: [email protected]
By Dr. Benjamin B. Bince
