Symptoms of sunburn

The symptoms already described, such as redness, pain, swelling and overheating of the affected skin area, begin approximately four to eight hours after sun exposure, which means that sunburn is usually discovered late. However, some people notice that the skin becomes tense and overly stressed by the sun even during exposure to the sun. The symptoms of sunburn usually peak in intensity 12 to 24 hours after sun exposure and then gradually subside.

However, the phenomenon of itching after sunburn may even begin after this time and persist for a longer period of time, as the itching accompanies the healing process of the damaged skin. If skin reactions untypical for sunburn, such as wheals, pustules, blisters or papules, become noticeable after the skin has been exposed to sunlight, other triggers may also be responsible. Under no circumstances should you give in to itching, as scratching will further damage the already damaged skin.

This creates entry ports for bacteria, which could cause skin infections. Distraction from itching, for example by reading an exciting book or watching a film, is a very effective measure. Particularly important in the treatment of sunburn and the itching that accompanies it is to avoid renewed exposure to the sun by staying predominantly indoors or covering the burnt areas of skin.

The itching can be effectively relieved by cooling. Cloths and clothing soaked in cold water and placed on the appropriate parts of the body are suitable for this purpose. Ice or cool packs should not be used, since the skin will be damaged by the cold after a short time in addition to sunburn.

However, it is possible to wrap cool packs in towels, for example, so that no direct contact with the skin is possible. One advises today against household remedies such as quark wraps. Although they have a good cooling effect, the bacteria found in quark can more easily infect already damaged skin.

Furthermore, moisturizing lotions (after-sun lotions) help to relieve itching. They also cool the skin and provide the necessary moisture. This is important because the body loses fluid in the event of sunburn, as the damaged skin cannot maintain its barrier function.

It is therefore also important to drink enough water. Painkillers (analgesics) such as ibuprofen or aspirin help to further treat itching and pain. One advantage is that the analgesics not only treat the symptoms such as itching but also the causes, namely the underlying inflammation of the skin.

They suppress the release of the cytokines that are responsible for the symptoms of sunburn. If the itching does not subside even after a few days despite treatment, a doctor should be consulted. After an examination, the doctor may, for example, prescribe cortisone-based ointments that relieve the itching and at the same time treat the inflammation of the skin.