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How To Prevent Sunburn Without Sunscreen?
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A Sunburn results from excessive exposure to the sun or the like (such as tanning beds or other UV sources). This condition is more common in summer when the sun’s rays are more vital than ever.
When the sun’s ultraviolet rays reach the skin, it damages skin cells and causes mutations in their DNA and sunburn.
Our body has many excellent mechanisms to prevent and even correct these mutations. However, if the skin cells are exposed to UV rays beyond their capacity, the damage may be irreversible, and the cells die. And even more, it may lead to skin aging ( For these people, reading the article “What Are The Stages Of Skin Rejuvenation?” will be useful ). Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow and bring immune cells to the skin to help clear the problem. All this causes the redness, swelling, and inflammation that we call sunburn.
A sunburn will eventually heal, but some of the mutated cells survive and can eventually become cancerous.
Types of sunburn
Sunburns are classified according to the severity of skin damage. There are two most common types of sunburn and two less common :
- First-degree sunburn: In this type of complication, damage is done only to the outer layer of the skin, called the Epidermis. This type of burn usually heals within a few days to a week without needing treatment. However, home remedies for sunburn can help.
- Second-degree sunburn: damage caused by the sun’s rays reaches the inner layer of the skin, called the dermis. This damage may cause blisters. In this case, it may take weeks for the skin problem to heal and may require treatment by a sunburn doctor.
- Third-degree sunburn: Some may develop third-degree sunburn in sporadic cases, requiring emergency treatment.
This type of sunburn:
It causes severe damage to all layers of the skin (the skin has three layers) and even involves the fat layer under the skin.
It may destroy the nerve endings, and because of this, skin sensation becomes problematic.
Some medications make people more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet rays or artificial sources and may rarely lead to third-degree sunburn. This happens when you sleep in the tropics under the midday sun for long hours. However, usually, third-degree burns are caused by fire or chemicals.
- Fourth-degree sunburn: is very dangerous and if it is not prevented, it will have very serious and long-term effects on the skin. Fourth-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns.
This type of burn includes all layers of the skin and even in some cases the underlying fat and muscles.
In that regard, reading the article “The Best Guideline For The Type Of Skin Cancer” will be very useful.
What are the signs of a potential sunburn, and how to avoid it?
Excessive and uncontrolled exposure to sunlight can have many side effects, including skin Blemishes like liver spots, Mild and severe sunburns, etc.
- Mild sunburn symptoms: include redness and soreness of the skin. If you want to know how many days this type of sunburn heals, we should say that after 4-7 days, the skin will become scaly, and after a few days, it will heal.
- Severe sunburn symptoms: are called sun poisoning and may include:
- Burning and blistering of the skin
- loss of fluids (dehydration)
- Electrolyte imbalance
- infection
- To prevent sunburn, it is necessary to do the following:
- Avoid the sun.
- Cover your skin.
- Use protective glasses.
- Use an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher when exposed to sunlight (even if the weather is cloudy).
- Avoid tanning beds.
How can I protect my skin from the sun without using sunscreen?
- You can prevent sunburn by avoiding exposure to ultraviolet rays.
- Do not stay in direct sunlight. Sunlight not only causes many skin problems but is also one of the main causes of excessive sweating that may bother you. If you experience it, it is suggested to read the article “What Causes Excessive Underarm Sweating?“.
- If you will be out in the sun for an hour during the day, prepare yourself and do the necessary things to prevent sunburn. Especially if you plan to be outdoors for a long time or near the sun at noon, you must know that the sunlight is strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. So it is better to stay in the house during these hours.
- Remember to protect your skin even on cloudy days to avoid sunburn because ultraviolet (UV) rays pass through the cloud layers and cause your skin to get sunburned. Additionally, sand, snow, cement, and water reflect sunlight. Using two types of protection, shades or wearing appropriate clothing and sunscreen, is the best way to reduce exposure to sunlight.
- Look for the shade Shaded areas receive less UV radiation. As a result, they reduce your chance of sunburn. A tree, an umbrella, or places like a porch or a tent can make a suitable shade. Of course, according to the advice of experts, use sunscreen even when sitting in the shade to prevent sunburn because your skin is exposed to UV rays even in the shade (mainly due to the reflection of light from other surfaces).
- Bring moisturizer: Our skin often reacts very quickly to hot or cold weather. So, make sure you have room for moisturizer in your travel bag. Moisturizer provides essential vitamins, hydrates skin, and protects healthy skin from UV rays or harmful environmental factors. Depending on your skin type, you can choose a suitable moisturizing cream.
- drink water: When the skin is exposed to sunlight, the water molecules evaporate, and this can cause the skin to dry out. So, rehydrate your body by drinking water regularly. At least 2 liters of water should be consumed during the day so that the skin always has enough moisture. This will help prevent dry, chapped, or unsightly skin.
- Eat healthy food: When traveling, you are often exposed to the sun more than usual. Therefore, to protect your skin from sunburn, you must provide sunscreen from the outside and the inside. Green tea, orange juice, or fruits with high vitamin C will help you in this field. You can also use sunscreen tablets, which are practical and convenient, and you can carry them anywhere.
The sun reflects off the snow, water, and even the beach sand, so be aware that you are exposed to the sun and sunburn despite the umbrella you are holding or the hat you are wearing.
- Be careful of the sun from 10 am to 4 pm. The sun’s intensity is much higher now, and the rays have the most significant effect on you, which causes sunburn.
- Do not sunbathe. No matter how much you have heard, we will repeat it. Do not sunbathe under any circumstances. This sunbathing severely damages those with thin and delicate skin and get very severe sunburns, and people who have more resistant skin will have skin blemishes in the next few years.
How does the appropriate use of clothing and accessories help prevent sunburn?
Dark-colored clothes and hats can better prevent ultraviolet rays from entering your body, and at the same time, if your clothes are dry, the effect of the sun on your body will be much less, so do not wet your clothes with water to cool down due to the extreme heat.
What are some natural sunscreen alternatives?
Taking care of the skin against the sun is very important. Direct sunlight on the skin’s surface causes much damage to your skin. The first and easiest step to prevent this damage is the continuous use of sunscreen.
Of the methods is using natural substances and sunscreen plants to prevent the sun’s rays from damaging the skin and causing sunburn.
Complications caused by sunburn include the appearance of skin spots like freckles, dullness and dead skin, and skin cancer in acute conditions. We will introduce natural ingredients and some sunscreen plants, all of which are entirely available and effective:
In addition to protecting your skin from the sun’s rays, sunscreen herbs have other benefits. For example, most vegetable oils prevent dehydration and extreme skin dryness.
However, these materials may not have a very high SPF to protect the skin from intense radiation, so it is better to use them after checking all aspects.
- sweet almond oil
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- Sesame Oil
- Peanut oil
- Red raspberry seed oil
- Wheat bran oil
- soybean oil
Mix some of these oils with coconut oil or cocoa butter to prepare homemade sunscreen and pour it into a glass bottle. Then add some wax to make this mixture waterproof. Add 5 to 10 drops of unique and valuable vegetable oil to this mixture. After these steps, close the lid of the jar but do not seal it, and place it in a pan filled with water.
Place the pan on low heat until the mixture inside the glass is slowly warmed and completely melted and soft. Then, place the glass out of the hot water at room temperature to cool down gradually. You can use this combination as a natural, high-quality, healthy, and safe sunscreen during the summer season.
Conclusion
Sunburn is a term used for damage caused by the sun, such as the reddening of parts of the skin, which is sometimes accompanied by swelling and pain.
Sunburn is caused by excessive exposure of the skin to sunlight and the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. The severity of sunburn can be mild or severe.
Generally, the amount of sunburn depends on factors such as the type of skin and the length of time the skin is exposed to the sun and sunlight radiation. A mild sunburn is normal and heals quickly. Sunburn is one of the leading and essential factors in skin cancer.
Regarding the causes of sunburn, it should be noted that the intensity of the sun’s ultraviolet rays depends on the sun’s angle. For this reason, the most significant risk of sunburn is at noon because the sun shines directly on the skin.
If you are one of the people who care a lot about your beauty, the article “Skin Cycling Routine Morning And Night” may be interesting for you.
Dr.sanaz bellucci
I am Sanaz Bellucci , a dentist. In this electronic magazine, I publish my collection of research and studies on various topics related to health and beauty that you may face with it.
You can also share your questions of interest with me so that I can give them complete and comprehensive answers. stay with me.
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