In most parts of the country, going outside during peak summer feels like stepping into a sauna. Braving the heat for a cookout, tennis match, or just to walk the dog can lead anyone to wonder if they’re going to get a severe sunburn, which is sometimes called sun poisoning, before they can get back inside.
Here’s what you should know about how to handle a severe burn.
What is sun poisoning?
Anything with the word “poison” in it is pretty ominous. But while sun poisoning is no joke, you can’t technically be diagnosed with it. Rosanne Paul, DO, an assistant professor of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University, explains that sun poisoning isn’t a genuine medical term, but is widely understood to be a severe sunburn that causes a systemic reaction in the body with symptoms similar to a viral illness like the flu.
Dermatologist and founder of Sandia Dermatology Deeptej Singh, MD, also describes sun poisoning as a severe sunburn. He explains that sun poisoning goes beyond the redness, discomfort, and peeling skin associated with sunburns. It includes these symptoms, but also can include headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, and even a change in mental state.
Heather Hinshelwood, MD, the co-owner and Chief of Medicine of The Fraum Center on Hilton Head Island, says that sun poisoning doesn’t always come with a sunburn. Your skin can be well-protected with proper clothing and SPF, but it’s the sheer heat that gets you. “Sun poisoning can be caused by a heat injury and can include heat stroke,” she says. A heat stroke occurs when the body overheats and its core temperature rises above 104 degrees. Its symptoms include a throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, fainting, and a fast heartbeat. It can be fatal.
How much time in the sun causes sun poisoning?
Obviously no one wants to get sun poisoning, but you probably don’t want to spend your entire summer indoors either. So, what’s the threshold? Dr. Hinshelwood says that the amount of heat and sun someone can bear without getting sun poisoning varies greatly. For example, someone who is used to the heat isn’t going to get sun poisoning as easily as someone who is used to a milder climate.
Instead of going by some sort of made-up formula about how much time you can spend in the sun before being at risk of sun poisoning, Dr. Singh recommends keeping an eye on your skin while you’re outside: “Is it hot? Is it turning red? This means it is burning and it is time to get out of the sun.”
How is sun poisoning treated?
Sometimes you can treat it on its own, but other times, it’s important to call 911 or head to the emergency room. If what you’re dealing with is burnt, blistering skin and mild dehydration, Dr. Hinshelwood says you can treat it on your own by drinking lots of water (or an electrolyte beverage) and putting cold compresses on your skin. If your sunburn is severe (as in blistering skin lesions) or you’re experiencing more serious symptoms (confusion, changes in mental state, dizziness, nausea, or a fever), these are all signs to see a doctor ASAP.
Dr. Hinshelwood says the first step paramedics or a doctor are going to take to treat sun poisoning is attempt to cool the body down. That means stripping you down to your undies and putting cold compresses on your body. They might pour cold water all across your body too. You can also expect to be given an IV, since sun poisoning and dehydration tend to go hand-in-hand.
To treat the blistering sunburn part of sun poisoning, popping an ibuprofen and applying aloe vera to your skin can help. You should also keep your skin covered and stay out of the sun until it heals. (Not that you’ll likely be itching to get back outside anytime soon.)
How to protect yourself.
Of course, never getting sun poisoning in the first place is way better than having to treat it. A lot of it comes down to the sun protection basics you already know: If you’re going to be spending time in the sun, wear clothing that protects your skin and sunscreen. If you’re bald, you need to apply sunscreen to your head too.
If you’re vacationing somewhere warmer than where you live, Dr. Hinshelwood says it’s important to be extra cautious; you aren’t going to be able to maintain the same activity level that you’re used to back home. “I used to live near Joshua Tree National Park, and at least once a year there are tourists who end up with sun poisoning—and worse—because they didn’t acclimate appropriately,” she says. —Emily Laurence
