Horrible sunburn

[ebruening]

I went on an extended bike ride yesterday, from 10:30 a.m. to just after 1:00 p.m. While my muscles feel fine, my skin doesn't. I stupidly went out without sunblock, and with my fair complexion, that was like a death sentence for my skin. My arms, legs, neck, and shoulders are beet red, and since late yesterday afternoon, have been swollen and blistered. I've tried a combination of ibuprofen, ice, and lots of 100% aloe vera. I've also had a lot of water to drink in the last 12 hours or so. However, I don't see any real improvement with the swelling and blistering. I've had bad sunburns before, and I can handle the red, sore skin, but I've never before had my skin start to swell and blister this badly with bad sunburns. Has anyone ever had this happen before? Is it something that would warrant medical attention, or should I just treat it at home? I'm thinking of calling the Ask-A-Nurse line, and seeing what they have to say. (FYI: The reason I thought I'd post it on here, instead of calling my mother, is because I don't want her to freak out. She has recurring basil cell carcinoma and worries constantly that I'll have similar skin cancer when I get to be her age. There's no need to worry her over a sunburn.)

[winneythepooh7]

I have heard of people seeking medical attention for sunburn. How are you feeling otherwise? I've heard people could die from related sun-stroke. I think you should call the Ask-a-nurse or your doctor's answering service and see what they say. Better to be safe IMO.

[ebruening]

I'm feeling generally okay, other than the sunburn. I'll call the Ask-A-Nurse line, and see what it has to say. Thanks for the info.

[RealDeal]

The unfortunate thing is there's not much you can do as far as I know. If your'e not feeling well, I'd definitely call a doctor. You may have to wait it out, though...ice and aloe are my best friends if I get sunburnt!

[embrassezla]

Definitely call/see a doc, and I just read today that cool yogurt (topically) is good for a sunburn (not on open blisters, though).

[coll214]

It sounds silly too, but in addition to the water/aloe I also will sit right in front of a fan to help cool off my skin. But if you start feeling woozy, i'd def. talk to your dr.

[Umbra]

I had sunburn on my shoulders one time turn black. It was because my cousin grabbed my shoulders and pulled too hard, which resulted in the skin being ripped off(I already had sunburn on my shoulders). This only worsened my already craptastic condition, and it's also why the skin turned black.

It took a month to heal, and I pretty much had to stay indoors because sunlight burned me(even while wearing a shirt). I just put some cremes on it and that was that. I guess you could treat yourself to some ice cream; that might cool your body off some. If nothing else, it might take your mind off the itching/burning feeling. :)

[pisces2473]

Tylenol might help the pain. Or advil. I can't remember which one is better for burns.

[spokes]

i have seen some stuff from hawiian trop that is supposed to sooth the burn.......i'd imagine that one way or anotehr you'll have to suffer for a couple of days........

[vxmike]

I think a doctor is overkill. There's nothing they can do other than say "you have a bad sunburn, deal". Just keep it clean to avoid infection. Slather with aloe regularly.

Yes I'm certain I've been burned worse than this before on my left arm/hand from driving 12 hours a day for two days in blistering heat with my window open. My hand and forearm got so swollen I couldn't even close my hand and my forearm was twice its normal size. Not to mention the pain from basically all my skin dying, ripping off at the slightest touch and the arm then constantly oozing liquid. It took about six weeks to fully heal.

[blueyes]

Just for the record, any burn - sunburn or otherwise - that blisters is a second-degree burn and you should seek professional medical attention for it.

For a second-degree sunburn, a doctor can prescribe a topical cream called Silvadene (sp?) which vastly reduces the chances of any scarring or toughening of the new skin under an old burn site and reduces the potential for future sun sensitivity in the burn area. I had a horrid second-degree sunburn on my face during my sophomore year of college and Silvadene prevented any scarring or sensitivity on my face.

Yeah, it might seem lame and you might be embarrassed, but I'm inclined to think that 30 minutes of 'Yeah, I should have worn (more) sunblock' and a prescription is better than a prolonged healing time and lifelong scars...

[wordsmith]

Your complexion, which is VERY similar to mine, definitely warrants a trip to the doc for a sunburn of that severity. When I was a student in a subtropical country, I had to take an antimalarial medication that increased sun sensitivity as a side effect...as a result, even with sunscreen, I had a day out on the open water where I got a terrifying second degree burn that made me physically ill with flu-like symptoms for days, in addition to the skin pain and open blisters.

Go to the doc...they will know what can be done (and it might just be waiting and taking OTC painkillers and topical stuff. Aloe with lidocaine in it is awesome for temporary relief (especially if stored in the fridge), but if you have open blisters, that changes things. Mostly, it will just take time, and be VIGILANT about checking your skin when you do heal. I'm a huge skin cancer freak, and those types of burns on parchment-pale girls like us are pretty terrifying.

[ebruening]

I went to an urgent care facility last weekend, and yes, I was given Silvadene. I'm peeling like crazy now, but hopefully there won't be any scarring. I was in a fair amount of pain all last week :rolleyes: I've got a June appointment with my dermatologist, at the urgent care doc's insistence, since my mother's side of the family has a history of skin cancer, and this was a second degree burn. This is one sunburn that will probably take a month or so to heal completely...until then, I'm keeping my burned skin covered when I'm outside. Thanks to everyone who offered advice.

[winneythepooh7]

I hope you feel better soon!

[blueyes]

Glad to hear you're on the mend - trust me, Silvadene is AWESOME. Just be vigilant with it and you're going to heal up just fine.

Although, just be prepared for the longest dermatologist lecture on sunscreen EVAH. :p

[wordsmith]

My dad used Silvadene for severe chemical burns, and it really, really, really seriously reduced the scarring. And we're talking layers and layers of skin gone.

[pisces2473]

Is the same as silver nitrate? My FI had something similar when he was recovering from serious abdominal surgery with a lot of scarring.

[wordsmith]

Yeah, I believe it's just a pharma trademark name for silver nitrate cream.