Do you enjoy laying down under the sun?

This is an insightful article that seeks to explore the causes, manifestations and preventive measures against sun poisoning.

If you have had sunburn before, or if you would like to know how to avoid it for yourself or for your loved ones, this is the article for you.

You will learn the factors that cause sun poisoning like UV radiation exposure, as well as other factors that may interest you.

We will also look at the signs to look out for including blistering, swelling and fever among other symptoms.

Also, you will get to know the best ways of avoiding sun poisoning, including the use of SPF, the right clothes to wear and the right time to expose yourself to the sun.

It is, therefore, advisable to take proper measures that will help in preventing sunburn or sun poisoning in order to have a good time during the summer season.

Continue with the read to get more tips and tips from the experts on how to prevent sun poisoning.

Sun poisoning is a severe form of sunburn that occurs when the skin is overexposed to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

While sunburn is well known to most people, sun poisoning is a more severe form of sunburn that causes a number of discomforting and sometimes dangerous symptoms.

This condition is actually an inflammatory reaction in the skin as a result of overexposure to the sun’s rays which leads to severe redness, swelling and blisters.

The term “sun poisoning” can be a bit of a misnomer; it does not mean poisons from the sun in the same way that food poisoning does.

In fact, it is a condition that is a result of overexposure to the UV radiation.

This can happen when one is engaged in outdoor activities especially when in areas that have a lot of sun exposure such as the beach, the mountains or any area that has a lot of reflectors like water or sand.

People like to go out in the sun, but sometimes without knowing the consequences of overdoing it, one can have a lot of discomfort and other health complications.

It is therefore important to know about sun poisoning especially if one spends most of his or her time outdoors.

It is a good lesson that shows that although sun light is a great source of Vitamin D and has many other benefits to the body, it can also be dangerous if one is not careful.

People should be able to recognize what sun poisoning is and thus be in a position to identify it and avoid it in the future.

The major factor that leads to sun poisoning is phototoxicity which is as a result ofultra violet(UV) radiation from the sun.

The two types of UV rays that are harmful to the skin include the UVA and UVB rays.

UVA rays are able to travel deeper into the skin and is mainly contribute to early aging while UVB rays are the major cause of sunburn and are more active during the sunlight exposure.

If the skin is exposed to these rays for long periods of time without the use of sunscreen and other protective measures then sun poisoning sets in.

Other factors that may affect the chances of getting sun poisoning include the environment.

For instance, areas that are nearer to the equator receive stronger sunlight, thus increasing the chances of being affected by the sun.

High altitude areas also tend to have higher UV exposure since there is less atmosphere for the UV rays not to penetrate to the surface.

Also, other structures that reflect light such as water, sand and snow can enhance the effects of UV radiation hence increasing the chances of getting sun poisoning especially when engaged in outdoor activities in such places.

Another factor is the time that one spends in the sun.

Sunlight is most effective between the hours of 10 a. m. and 4 p. m.

This window is when UV radiation is at its highest level hence being very careful is advisable during these times.

UV rays can also reach your skin on cloudy days as much as up to 80%, therefore sun poisoning is possible even on cloudy days.

It is important to be aware of these causes in order to avoid or reduce the chances of having sun poisoning and at the same time protect the skin.

The symptoms of sun poisoning may vary in its severity but the common ones include severe redness and discomfort of the skin.

Another evident sign is the appearance of blisters on the skin which may develop as a result of exposure to a lot of UV rays.

These blisters may be itchy and have a tender surface that may ooze fluid, thus increasing the chances of getting an infection if not well managed.

Also, the skin may also swell leading to a feeling of heat and discomfort which can be felt for several days.

Sometimes sun poisoning may cause other generalized symptoms like fever, shaking chill or even vomiting.

These symptoms are the body’s way of coping with the damage that has been done to the skin and can therefore affect your quality of life.

Another effect of sun poisoning is dehydration since when one is sun poisoned the body loses fluids through sweating and inflammation.

One should ensure that they drink plenty of water to help in the healing process and to some extent reduce some of the discomforts that come with this condition.

Also, sun poisoning can have a long term effect on the skin such as peeling, darkening of the skin and increased chances of getting cancer.

This information together with the knowledge of the symptoms may assist people to identify when they are developing sun poisoning and hence act promptly to prevent exposure to the sun.

Sun poisoning can be classified into various types according to the symptoms that it causes and the severity of the symptoms.

The most widespread one is the acute sun poisoning which develops after a single time period of exposure to the sun.

This type usually results in the signs and symptoms of sunburn such as redness, blisters and pain.

Acute sun poisoning can take anywhere from a few days to a week to clear up depending on the severity of the sunburn and the person’s skin type.

Another type is recurrent sun poisoning which may develop in those people who tend to spend most of their time exposed to sunlight.

This can lead to the accumulation of damage to the skin thus causing more severe reactions with each exposure.

Those who suffer from recurrent sun poisoning will notice that their skin becomes tender and inflamed much more easily than before and they will experience pain and discomfort each time they are exposed to sunlight in the future.

This cycle can therefore be rather annoying and uncomfortable for those who enjoy exposure to sun but cannot avoid exposure to sunburns.

Finally, there is a condition known as solar urticaria which is a form of sun poisoning that is characterized by the appearance of itchy wheal like rash on the skin after exposure to sun.

This reaction is a result of allergy to UV rays whereby the skin shows symptoms of redness, itching and swelling.

Solar urticaria is not very common as it is uncomfortable since the symptoms can show up instantly after exposure to the sun and may need relief from the symptoms.

This information may assist the individuals to identify the symptoms and therefore manage the condition appropriately.

There are certain factors that can raise the risk of sun poisoning in people and the most common one is skin type.

Fair skin, light hair and light colored eyes are the individuals who are most likely to get sunburned and sun poisoned.

This increased susceptibility is because they have less melanin in their skin which is a natural filter against UV rays.

Those with darker skin tone have more melanin in their skin and thus are not exempt from sun damage and sun poisoning though at a lower rate.

Another important factor that cannot be ignored is the age of the person.

As has been mentioned before, children under the age of 18 are at a higher risk because of the soft skin they have.

In addition, elderly people are also at high risk as the skin of an elderly person is rather tender and loses its elasticity with age thus making it easy for the skin to get damaged from the sun rays.

Further, people with certain medical conditions or those who are on medications that make the skin sensitive to sun light are at higher risks of developing sun poisoning.

Such conditions include lupus, some skin diseases, and antibiotics or diuretics.

For instance, the employees who work under the sun or the athletes who engage in sports activities often are more likely to spend long hours under the sun.

Likewise, those who fail to apply sunscreen or cover up when they are exposed to the sun also tend to expose themselves to the risk of sun poisoning.

People who have these risk factors can be alert to the signs of over exposure to sun and take the necessary precautions to avoid the complications.

To avoid getting sun poisoning, one has to first know the importance of sun protection and how to avoid being exposed to UV rays.

The use of broad spectrum sunscreen with high SPF is one of the most effective measures that can be taken in order to prevent sun poisoning.

For instance, it is advisable to use sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 since it is able to block 97 % of the UVB rays.

It is highly advisable to put on sunscreen on all parts of the body which are likely to be exposed to the sun at least fifteen minutes prior to undertaking any activity and to do so again every two hours when exposed to the sun or after swimming or perspiring.

Besides, the usage of protective clothing also helps in minimizing the chances of getting sunburned.

Light weight and comfortable clothing which has fine texture is a good barrier against the UV rays.

Some of the measures include; covering up with long sleeves, wearing wide-brimmed hats and UV blocking sunglasses to protect the skin of the face and eyes.

More and more sports and outdoor apparel retailers are now providing UV-protective clothing and accessories to help people stay protected when they are engaged in their favorite activities.

Another important aspect that can’t be overlooked when it comes to sun protection is the timing of your outdoor activities.

The ultraviolet rays of the sun are most effective between the hours of 10am to 4pm and so it is advisable to avoid being exposed to the sun during these hours.

People can minimize the chances of getting sun poisoning and have a great time in the open air.

Sun poisoning is a very severe condition which shows how important it is to protect the skin from the sun.

It is important for anyone who loves spending time in the open to know the causes, effects, and ways of preventing sun poisoning.

Thus, with the help of the effective prevention measures including the application of sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding exposure to the sun at certain times of the day, the probability of sunburn can be decreased to a great extent.

In this way, we can have fun in the sun without exposing ourselves and our family and friends to the severe consequences of overexposure to UV rays.

The above mentioned tips can go a long way in ensuring that the time spend in the sun is fruitful and without any adverse effects.