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By now, we're all (hopefully) aware of the dangers of a bad sunburn — forgetting your sunscreen can lead to redness and blisters, cellular damage that causes early signs of aging, and of course, a heightened risk of skin cancer. It can also lead to sun poisoning.
But what exactly is sun poisoning? You've probably heard the term thrown around a lot (especially during the summer months), and even the experts themselves aren't entirely on the same page. "There really isn't an entity called sun poisoning — dermatologists simply don't use this term because it is not a real entity," says New York-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD. "'Sun poisoning,' is just referring to a severe sunburn, which can often be accompanied by systemic symptoms like chills."
But while "sun poisoning" may be a casual, unofficial term — one we'll use in this article for the sake of differentiating it from a sunburn that stops at the usual redness and skin damage — there's nothing casual about the symptoms you may experience after an especially bad bout of sun exposure. We spoke to dermatologists to find out how to identify it and how treat it.
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
- Joshua Zeichner MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and director of cosmetic and clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.
- Julie Karen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
- Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut.
What is sun poisoning?
"Sun poisoning is a reaction to a severe sunburn that affects your entire body," Joshua Zeichner MD, director of cosmetic and clinical dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital and a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Allure. Essentially, a case of sun poisoning feels like the flu — in addition to dealing with a painful burn, you might have a fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and even fainting spells.
"Symptoms last anywhere from a few hours in mild cases to days in more severe cases," Julie Karen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City tells Allure.
The culprit behind the total body reaction is inflammation, explains Dr. Zeichner. When you get burned, your scorched skin becomes inflamed (that's what causes the redness and tenderness). But burns, particularly bad ones, also cause systemic inflammation throughout your body, he says. In other words, the effects of a sunburn go beyond skin-deep.
What's the difference between a sunburn and a sun rash?
Before you experience the more serious aforementioned symptoms like a fever or vomiting, your first sign of sun poisoning may be what looks like your worst sunburn ever — because it's actually a rash. "The sun rash can be wide-spread or may appear only on areas of the body that were most severely burned," says Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD. Unlike the typical discomfort and redness, the look and feel are different, "the rash is typically itchy and can develop small bumps that look like hives," she says.
As you might have guessed, "sun poisoning can develop anywhere on the body that a sunburn can," Dr. Mraz Robinson says. That means your chest, your lips, your back — anywhere that's been exposed to the sun for long enough to burn (which Dr. Marchbein says can be mere minutes when you're not wearing sufficient sunscreen). What often starts as "normal sunburn" can progress, developing the aforementioned symptoms.
How do you treat sun poisoning?
If spending too much time in the sun gives you a case of sun poisoning, there are two things you should do right away: First and foremost, get out of the sun. "Ideally, you should go inside and gradually cool skin with a cool compress or a cool bath," Dr. Karen says. "Sun avoidance for several days is also critical."
Luckily, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen, and stepping up your hydration can relieve symptoms while your body recovers, Dr. Mraz Robinson says. But for the best possible outcome, the worst rash symptoms need to be seen by a professional. "Blistering should be looked at by your dermatologist to avoid infection and long-term scarring," she insists.
The blistering in and of itself is bad, but it's also a sign of scarier things. "Having five blistering sunburns can increase your risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 80 percent," Dr. Marchbein warns.
If that doesn't help or your symptoms are severe — for example, you have a fever, chills, or vomiting — both Dr. Zeichner and Dr. Karen recommend calling your dermatologist ASAP. "If not suspected or detected, sun poisoning can lead to severe dehydration requiring hospitalization," Dr. Karen says.
How do you prevent sun poisoning?
Of course, just like sunburns, the best way to treat serious sun poisoning cases is to prevent them. You can do this with a liberal application of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, says Dr. Karen. We recommend La Roche-Posay Sport Anthelios Activewear Lotion Sunscreen SPF 60 or Supergoop Body Mousse With Blue Sea Kale SPF 50, as both offer a high protection level and are water- and sweat-resistant.
"You should apply a golfball-sized portion of sunscreen 15 minutes before heading outside and reapply every two hours," Dr. Karen says. "You should also reapply after swimming or sweating, and immediately after towel drying."
If you're more prone to getting sunburns — say, you have fair skin or are on medications that make you more sensitive to the sun — you're also more likely to get sun poisoning, Dr. Karen adds, so wearing sunscreen is extra important to keep you from feeling sick.
And remember: Just because you avoided "sun poisoning" symptoms after getting a tan or a sunburn doesn't mean damage hasn't been done. "There is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan or burn, and tans and sunburns are equally bad for your skin," Dr. Marchbein says. "They are the visible signs that there is DNA damage from UV exposure since UV light is a known carcinogen and not safe if any amount."
For more sun-care tips:
- The Best Sun Protection Products For Your Hair and Scalp
- This Super Common Sun Protection Tip Is Actually a Myth
- Surprise! The Tanning Nasal Sprays Going Viral on TikTok Are Not Safe
Now, watch how sun care has changed over the past century:
