First Aid Heat & Cold Exposure 5 Conditions Triggered by Excess Sun Exposure The Problem With Getting Too Much Sun By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P facebook twitter linkedin Rod Brouhard is an emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P), journalist, educator, and advocate for emergency medical service providers and patients. Learn about our editorial process Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO on November 17, 2019 Michael Menna, DO, is a board-certified, active attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Michael Menna, DO Updated on December 02, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Sunburn Dehydration Hyponatremia Heat Exhaustion Heatstroke Most people like to spend time outdoors on sunny days, but too much sun exposure can have serious consequences, including: SunburnDehydrationHyponatremiaHeat exhaustionHeatstroke SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images Sunburn Sunburn is a common skin injury caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The injury is triggered by an inflammatory response as UV radiation directly damages DNA in skin cells. When a cell's DNA is irreparably damaged, it will undergo apoptosis (cell death) and be quickly shed, leading to the peeling and flaking of skin. Sunburn Symptoms Common symptoms of sunburn include: Reddish skinPainSwellingFatigueHot skin temperatures DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND In more severe cases, you may also have: RashNauseaFeverDizzinessChills Contact a medical professional if these symptoms occur. Second-degree sunburns can manifest with: BlisteringOozingDehydrationEdema (tissue swelling)Fainting When You're at Risk Sunburn can begin after only 15 minutes of direct sun exposure. Pain and redness tend to be greatest during the first six to 48 hours. Sunburns don't only occur on hot summer days. Prolonged exposure even on snowy or overcast days can lead to burning. Preventive measures including sunscreen and sun-protective clothing can greatly reduce your risk. Over time, excessive sun exposure can lead to skin damage, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. A history of severe sunburn gives you a 2.4-fold increase in your risk of squamous cell carcinoma and a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of melanoma. Treating Sunburn You can treat mild sunburn with a cool bath or shower, cool compresses, and an over-the-counter moisturizing cream. For pain, you can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen). If blisters form, do not break them. How to Treat a Sunburn Dehydration Dehydration is the depletion or imbalance of fluids or electrolytes that interferes with the normal body functions. It occurs when the loss of body fluids exceeds the intake of fluids, usually on hot days when you are overexerting yourself. Symptoms of Dehydration Most healthy people can tolerate between a 3% to 4% loss of body water without symptoms. After 5%, you may develop: DizzinessHeadachesFatigue As the water loss exceeds 10%, severe symptoms can develop, including: Decreased urinationConfusionSeizures Treating Dehydration Mild dehydration can usually be resolved by drinking water or an electrolyte-rich sports drink. The best way to avoid dehydration is to drink water before you get thirsty, especially if you plan to be in the sun for a long period or are overexerting yourself. How to Prevent Dehydration Hyponatremia The opposite of dehydration is a condition known as hyponatremia (sometimes referred to as "water intoxication"). Hyponatremia can occur when you lose a lot of water through sweat but fail to replace lost sodium when you rehydrate. People often think of dehydration as the loss of water when, in fact, it also includes an imbalance of electrolytes. Hyponatremia Symptoms Hyponatremia can occur during endurance sports when you lose too much fluid but only drink water. Unless you replace the lost sodium, you can begin to feel the effects of the depletion, including: HeadacheFatigueLethargyLoss of appetiteIrritabilityMuscle weaknessCrampsConfusion Treating Hyponatremia Mild hyponatremia can usually be resolved by drinking an electrolyte-rich sports drink. Severe cases usually require a 3% saline solution delivered intravenously (into a vein) by emergency medical personnel. Heat Exhaustion Dehydration coupled with prolonged sun or heat exposure can cause heat exhaustion. By definition, heat exhaustion occurs when the body's core temperature rises above 98.6° F (30° F) but not beyond 104° F (40° C). It typically occurs on hot, humid days when you're overexerting yourself. Risk of Heat Exhaustion Dehydration and obesity greatly increase the risk of heat exhaustion, as do: AlcoholCaffeineCertain drugs (diuretics, antihistamines, beta-blockers, alcohol, ecstasy, and amphetamines) Babies and the elderly are at greatest risk as they tend to have impaired thermoregulation (the ability of the body to adjust to climate changes). Heat Exhaustion Symptoms Common symptoms include: DizzinessHeadacheNauseaThirstWeaknessHigh body temperatureProfuse sweatingDecreased urinationVomiting Treating Heat Exhaustion If someone you know has heat exhaustion: Move them to a cool spaceRemove any excess clothingBring down body temperature by fanning them or placing cool, wet towels on their skinOffer water or a sports drink if they can keep fluids downIf dizziness occurs, lie them on their back and elevate their feet If first aid measures fail to provide relief within 15 minutes, call 911 or seek emergency medical care. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke. Heatstroke Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke, is a more severe form of heat exhaustion in which the body's core temperature exceeds 104° F (40° C). It causes more than 600 deaths in the United States each year, either because of excessive exertion in hot temperatures (referred to as exertional heatstroke) or certain conditions that impair thermoregulation (non-exertional or "classic" heatstroke). Causes of Heatstroke Common causes of classic heatstroke include: Younger ageOlder ageAlcoholStimulantsCertain medications Death from heatstroke frequently occurs when younger children or the elderly are left in parked cars in direct sunlight, where temperatures can climb to 124° F to 153° F (51° C to 67° C). Heatstroke Symptoms Symptoms of heatstroke are more profound than heat exhaustion but can differ based on whether you have exertional or classic heatstroke. For instance, sweating is characteristic of exertional heatstroke but typically absent with classic heatstroke. Other symptoms may include: Rapid breathFast, weak pulseNausea and vomitingConfusion or deliriumHostilityIntoxication-like behaviorFainting and unconsciousnessSeizures, especially in children As symptoms advance, skin can suddenly take on a bluish tinge as blood vessels begin to narrow and restrict blood flow and oxygen exchange. If left untreated, heatstroke can lead to: Organ failureRhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of skeletal muscle)Death Treating Heatstroke Heatstroke is an emergency. Treatment involves: Rapidly cooling the bodyOral and IV rehydrationStandard resuscitation measures by trained medical professionals Top 10 Summer Health Risks to Avoid Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. D'Orazio J, Jarrett S, Amaro-Ortiz A, Scott T. UV radiation and the skin. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14(6):12222-48. doi:10.3390/ijms140612222 MedlinePlus. Sunburn. Updated April 16, 2019. Nemours KidsHealth. First aid: Sunburn (for parents). Updated July 2018. Wu S, Cho E, Li WQ, Weinstock MA, Han J, Qureshi AA. History of severe sunburn and risk of skin cancer among women and men in 2 prospective cohort studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2016;183(9):824-33. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv282 American Academy of Dermatology. How to treat sunburn. Cleveland Clinic. Hyponatremia. Updated April 17, 2018. Lee JJ, Kilonzo K, Nistico A, Yeates K. Management of hyponatremia. 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