What it means
The skin turns red, warm and sore hours after exposure; a bad burn blisters and can come with fever and chills. Repeated sunburns, most of all in childhood, raise the lifetime risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Some drugs, such as tetracycline antibiotics, make the skin burn much more easily.
For the nurse
Teach prevention: shade, hats and clothing, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher put on again every 2 hours and after swimming. Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sun. Cool compresses, fluids and pain relievers ease a mild burn.
At a glance
| Spanish | quemadura solar |
|---|---|
| Also written | sunburns, sunburned, sunburnt |
Related terms
erythema
Redness of the skin caused by more blood flowing in the small vessels near the surface.