What Are Sunburn Blisters?
The blisters that develop as a result of long exposure to radiation from the sun are known as sunburn blisters. Sun blisters are a result of severe sunburn. A blister is a bubble that appears under the skin and is filled with fluid. Blisters are unsightly and are uncomfortable. In some cases the sunburn blisters are accompanied by swelling in the area of sunburn. These blisters actually protect the underlying tissue. So, it is necessary to keep the sun blisters intact. The intensity of sunburn and the development of blisters depend on• The skin type of the particular person
• The intensity of the sun’s rays
• The time of exposure
• How long the exposure had occurred
The blisters can occur on any exposed part of the body including the lips. It takes some time for the body to show the symptoms of sunburn blisters
Symptoms Of Sunburn Blisters
• Reddish skin which is tender and warm to touch• Blisters that develop hours or days after exposure and cause itching
• Fever, chills, pain, rash swelling and nausea
• Peeling of the skin in the burned areas after some days
The symptoms may not last longer but, the damages caused to the tissues due to sunburn blisters are sometimes permanent. This can produce serious health effect in people. Sun burns are a major cause of skin cancer in people. The pain and discomfort will be more due to sunburn blisters between 6 and 48 hours after exposure.
The Causes Of Sunburn Blisters
Our body is protected by a particular pigment in the skin called melanin. When the amount of exposure to the sun or other sources of ultraviolet rays exceeds the ability of melanin to fight the radiant sun burn occurs. A light skinned person has more chances to get sunburn and blisters than a dark skinned person when exposed to the mid – day sun for 15 minutes. The major cause for sun burn are the• UVA- this penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin and damages the production of new skin cells. Exposure to this radiation for long cause dryness of the skin, roughening and wrinkling of the skin. High UVA doses cause sunburn and blisters.
• UVB- this cause more damage to the skin than UVA. This causes skin damage and even skin cancer. It mainly affects the surface layers of the skin. When exposed to UVB skin releases chemicals that will dilate the blood vessels. This will cause loss of fluids and inflammation of the skin.
Things To Remember While Taking Sunbath
To avoid sunburn blisters while taking sunbath, it is necessary to know the following things.• There is no way you get a healthy tan. Any exposure to the sun without proper protection causes damage to the skin and promotes aging.
• First degree and second degree burns can occur due to exposure to sunlight
• Exposure to the sun in childhood can result in skin cancer in a later stage of life
Who Are More Likely To Get Sunburn Blisters?
• People with fair skin are more likely to suffer from sunburns and blisters• People using sun lamps are prone to get the sunburns and blisters
• Infants and children are more susceptible to sunburns than adults
• Getting exposure to the sun between 10:00a.m. and 4:00p.m increases the chances of sunburn blisters
Preventing Sunburn Blisters
Though there are many home remedies available to treat the sunburn blisters it is better to avoid the sunburn blisters which may cause complications in later life.- Avoid exposure to the sun when the intensity of sunray is at the peak
- Use sunscreens while going out with a sun protection factor of at least 30.apply generous amount of sunscreen to areas like face, neck, shoulders and hands which are exposed.
- Apply sunscreen half an hour before you go outside
- Re apply sunscreen every two hours, if you are sweating heavily or if you are swimming
- There are clothing and swimwear with SPF. Use this if your skin is very sensitive
- Use sun hats, sunglasses with UV protection or umbrellas to protect you from sun rays
- Use lip balm to prevent burning of lips
- If you suspect sunburn take cool showers or place a cool wet towel on the burn to prevent the formation of blisters
When To Contact A Doctor
It is necessary to call a medical professional if you have a fever with sunburn blisters or if there is signs of heat exhaustion, dehydration, shock or any other serious problem. The important signs to watch for are- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Increased pulse rate or rapid breathing
- Sunken eyes, extreme thirst, no urine output. This may be the signs of dehydration
- Pale and cool skin
- Nausea, chills, rash or fever
- Burning sensation of the eyes and sensitive to light
- Blisters which are severely painful
How To Get Rid Of Sunburn Blisters?
If the sunburn is mild you can opt for some home remedies to treat it.- The treatment should be able to relieve the reddened and blistered skin and it should be able to ease the pain.
- If you go to a doctor they may provide pain relieving medications and some cortisone creams to reduce the inflammation, but home remedies are very effective in reducing the sunburn blisters and are safe to use.
- After some days the skin will peel off in the burned or blistered areas.
- Do not expose the skin when your skin gets peeled off as these areas are more sensitive to the sun.
Home Remedies to get rid of Sunburn Blisters
Some of the effective home remedies to get rid of sunburn blisters are discussed below. If untreated, the blisters can develop infections causing more pain, inflammation and fever. These home remedies will decrease the pain, reduce the blisters, prevent infection and provide speedy healing.Cold Compress
Give cold compress on the affected areas of the skin to reduce the inflammation and pain. Soak a towel in cold water and squeeze out the extra water. Keep the towel on the affected area. Repeat the treatment several times to get relief from the burring feeling. Never apply ice directly on the sunburn blisters this will make the condition worse. Use cool water to bathe for some days.Baking Soda
Baking soda will soothe the burned skin as it is alkaline in nature. It also provides relief from the itch caused by the sunburn blisters. They have antiseptic property and hence prevent the infections of the affected skin. If the blisters are spread on more area, add 1-2 cups of baking soda to your bath water and soak your body with this. If only some areas of the skin are affected you can make a paste of baking soda with water and apply on the blistered areas. If you want to speed up the healing process, you can use a paste of baking soda and vinegar on the blisters before going to bed. Avoid this remedy if you have open sunburn blisters.Dry Bandages
If there are sunburn blisters, it is necessary to keep them protected to prevent them from popping. If the blisters burst there will be more chance of infection and healing process will become slow. Applying dry bandages will prevent infection and make the healing faster.Use Loose Cotton Clothes
If you are having sunburn blisters use loose cotton clothing which will not stick to the blisters. Cotton clothing provides necessary air circulation and help in cooling the skin.Avoid Further Exposure To Sun
To get rid of the sunburn blisters faster it is necessary to avoid further exposure of the skin to the sun. Do not go out in the sun till the blisters are healed properly. The skin will be more sensitive when there are blisters or when the skins of the blisters are coming off on their own.Vinegar
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar are two good remedies for sunburn and blisters. Take any of these vinegars and dilute it using cold water. Dip a soft cloth or cotton ball in this mix and apply it on the blisters or the sunburned areas. This remedy will absorb the heat of the blisters and will provide faster healing of the blisters.Honey
You can apply honey directly on the blistered areas to prevent infection of the skin burned by the sun. You can also mix honey with vinegar to apply on the affected areas. The antiseptic property of the honey prevents infection and promotes healing. You can also mix honey and turmeric and apply it on the skin to get rid of the sunburn blisters.Aloe Vera
This is one of the powerful natural remedy to treat sunburn blisters. Take a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and take out the gel by cutting it. Apply this fresh gel onto the burned and blistered areas of the skin. Leave the gel to dry for some time. This will reduce the pain and it will also re- hydrate the affected skin. You will see that the healing process has become faster when you use this remedy. Though fresh gel provides a better result, you can also use the gel available in the market if the fresh leaves are not available.Butter Milk
Butter milk can be used externally as well as internally. Take one portion of yoghurt and one portion of water and make a thin liquid. This is the buttermilk. Apply this to the blistered skin. Buttermilk has excellent cooling property. This will soothe the skin and takes away the heat. You can also drink the mix by adding little salt to it. This will cool your body from within. This will be extremely helpful if you are prone to dehydration due to exposure to the sun.Lettuce Leaves
This remedy is extremely useful in treating sunburn blisters. What you have to do is, take few fresh lettuce leaves and boil them in water for about 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and take the water. Keep this water refrigerated for about two hours. Apply this water on the blisters for several times a day. This will provide relief from pain and swelling. Repeat the remedy till the blisters are completely cured. You can also keep the lettuce leaves in the refrigerator and use it directly on the affected areas. Take care that you do not break the blisters while doing this.Turmeric
Turmeric has antiseptic properties and hence it reduces the itching and prevents the infection of the skin. Take turmeric powder and make a paste of it with water apply this paste on the blisters and leave it for ten minutes. You can also mix yoghurt, turmeric and barley powder and apply it on the affected skin. Leave this mix on the skin for half an hour and wash it off with cold water. This will reduce pain and inflammation associated with sun blisters.Oat Meal
This common ingredient found in a home is a good remedy for treating the sunburn blisters. Apply a paste of oatmeal powder and water to the affected areas and wash it off after 15- 20 minutes. You can also add two cups of oatmeal powder to the bathing water in the tub and soak your body in it for half an hour. You will get relief after taking bath. Do not use soap or body wash when you have blisters.Cucumber
Cucumber can cool the body. Make a paste of cucumber and apply it directly on the affected skin. This will cool off the skin and make healing easier. Eating cucumbers will help to cool the body from within as well.Chamomile
This herb is especially useful in relieving the sunburn symptoms. Add a few drops of Chamomile extract to the water in a bowl. Dip a wash-cloth or towel in this mix and put the cloth on the blisters. Repeat the process several times a day to get relief from itchiness and pain.Are you affected by the intense rays of the sun? Have you developed sunburn blisters while enjoying the summer? Try these home remedies which will be able to provide you relief from the symptoms and help you to heal the blisters.
