EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUNBURN [ AND HOW TO AVOID IT ]

What causes sunburn?

- Hugo Andreae

Sunburn is the body’s reaction to excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Some people are more susceptible to it than others due to differing skin types. This is largely down to genetics, which control the amount of melanin your skin produces. Melanin is the body’s natural defence against sunburn and works by darkening the skin. That's why fair skinned people (and children) tend to burn quicker than darker skinned ones. It's also why some people tan more readily than others.

Are boat owners more susceptible?

Yes — for two reasons. Firstly, because boating is primarily an outdoor sport so we are more exposed to the sun’s UV rays and secondly because water reflects UV rays almost as well as a mirror, effectively doubling the exposure you get on dry land.

Is sunburn dangerous?

Not in the short term. Mild sunburn, medically defined as first-degree sunburn, is confined to the skin’s outer layer (epidermis) and usually heals in a few days. It is best treated by cooling the skin down (a quick dip in the sea can help), moisturising it while still wet and if necessary taking an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen or applying a mild (1%) hydrocortisone cream.

Severe sunburn is more problematic as it also affects the mid-layer (dermis), causing blisters which may take weeks to heal. Third-degree sunburn is extremely rare, penetrating right through to the fat layer beneath your skin and damaging nerve endings.

The trouble is that even mild sunburn significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer over the longer term. A single blistering sunburn in childhood or five mild sunburns more than doubles your risk of developing a potentially fatal melanoma later in life.

Is skin cancer on the rise?