Sunburn: why it is dangerous and how to prevent it easily
By Manon, pharmacist · Founder of Éclairée
Manon, pharmacist and founder of Éclairée, explains a question that many people still underestimate: is sunburn really serious?
Every year, millions of people come back from the beach, a walk or their garden with tight, red, painful skin… and think it will pass. It is true, it does pass. But the skin does not forget what it has been through.
As a pharmacist, Manon regularly meets patients who play down sunburn. Yet medically, sunburn is indeed a burn. Not a metaphor, not an exaggeration: a real skin burn. And like any burn, it leaves marks, visible or not, immediate or long-term.
In this article, Manon explains the direct consequences of UV rays on the skin, how to recognise the severity of sunburn, how to treat it, and above all how to prevent it. Because the best protection is the protection you use before you need it.
The question
What is sunburn?
For many people, sunburn can seem harmless. Yet it is a genuine skin burn caused by UV rays. Even when it appears “mild”, sunburn reflects skin damage that can have long-term consequences for skin health.
Sunburn, also called erythema, is an inflammation of the skin caused by excessive exposure to UV rays, mainly UVB.
The symptoms resemble those of a classic inflammation: redness, a feeling of heat, pain and skin that is sensitive to the touch. Depending on the amount of UV received and the skin’s sensitivity, sunburn can be more or less severe.
The skin factor
Why do some people get sunburnt more easily?
The risk depends in particular on the phototype, meaning the skin type. There are 6 different phototypes according to the Fitzpatrick classification: phototypes I and II get sunburnt more easily than other skin types. These people have fair skin, light-coloured eyes, light hair, freckles and often many moles.
Important: other phototypes can also get sunburnt, but often at higher UV doses.
Recognising severity
The different degrees of sunburn
Like other burns, sunburn can be classified according to its severity.
First degree
Simple sunburn
Sunburn causes redness of the skin, without blisters, which appears between 6 and 24 hours after exposure. When you press on it, the redness disappears. It then fades without leaving pigmentation or a scar.
Superficial second degree
Blisters appear
Blisters filled with clear fluid appear on red, painful skin. These blisters, scientifically called phlyctenae, indicate a deeper skin burn. Healing generally takes around two weeks and usually leaves no marks. These are often the most painful sunburns.
Deep second degree
A much more serious form
The blisters become larger and their base may appear pale, a sign that some skin blood vessels have been damaged. In general, they are not painful because the nerve fibres have been burnt. Healing can take more than a month and may leave scars.
The pain of sunburn is not correlated with its severity: deep sunburn can be painless because the nerve fibres have been burnt.
Complications may also occur: infection of blisters by bacteria present on the skin surface, fever, headaches, vomiting and signs of heatstroke. In these situations, medical advice is recommended.
Long-term risks
Sunburn and skin cancer: what are the risks?
Sunburn is not harmless. It increases the risk of developing skin cancer, particularly melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
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Just one severe sunburn before the age of 15 almost doubles the risk of melanoma in adulthood
Repeated exposure to UV rays causes damage to the DNA of skin cells. Over time, this damage can encourage the development of skin cancers.
The right steps
How can you soothe sunburn?
First rule: stop all sun exposure
In the event of sunburn, it is essential to stop all sun exposure until the skin has healed completely. If you go outside, you must therefore wear protective clothing and use SPF 50 sunscreen on areas not protected by clothing, even under a parasol.
Which products should you use to soothe the skin?
When sunburn is simple (limited in area and without blisters), it is advisable to apply a product that helps calm the burn, in a thin layer, 1 to 6 times a day depending on the chosen product.
What should you do in case of itching?
If strong itching is also present, hydrocortisone-based creams are available and should be applied twice a day for a maximum of 3 days.
What should you do in case of blisters?
In the event of sunburn with blisters, you must not pierce the blisters. Instead, disinfect with an aqueous chlorhexidine-based product. It is then advisable to apply a hydrocolloid dressing to clean, dry skin, changing it every day until healed.
Prevention
How can you prevent sunburn?
The best protection remains avoiding UV exposure. When you go outside and the UV index is 3 or higher, remember to protect yourself. For optimal sun protection:
- Wear covering textiles, the darker the garment, the better the protection. With UPF clothing, however, colour does not matter: protection is guaranteed.
- A sun hat to cover the nape of the neck and the ears, areas where skin cancers often develop.
- Sunglasses of category 3 minimum, or even 4 in the mountains.
- And lastly, sunscreen on the parts of the body that are still exposed.
Remember that sunburn is not something harmless: every sunburn leaves traces on your skin and increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
In conclusion
Sunburn is never “just sunburn”
Every burn counts in your skin’s history. The good news: effective sun protection is neither complicated nor restrictive. It starts by covering large exposed areas with clothing, preferably certified UPF 50+ sun protection clothing, before even thinking about sunscreen.
This is in fact the hierarchy recommended by the WHO: clothing first, then a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen on uncovered areas.
If you have children, this point is even more critical. Just one severe sunburn before the age of 15 doubles the risk of melanoma in adulthood. Choosing suitable protection for them is a concrete prevention measure.
Our selection
Protecting the whole family
All Ker Sun products are certified UPF 50+ against solar UVA and UVB rays according to standard EN 13758-1 and comply with European PPE Regulation 2016/425. 100% of the range carries the CE marking.
Manon · Pharmacist, founder of Éclairée
“ The best protection remains avoiding UV exposure. When you go outside and the UV index is 3 or higher, remember to protect yourself.”
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