Can you scar from sunburn

Skin with a first-degree burn is red, sore, and sensitive to the touch. It may also be moist, slightly swollen, or itchy. When lightly pressed, the reddened skin whitens, which is called blanching. First-degree sunburns do not usually blister or leave a scar. The side effects of a second degree burn are more severe than those of a first degree, tricking people into thinking it does more damage. This type of sunburn can swell and blister, which may indicate damage to deep skin layers and nerve endings.

In severe cases, an individual with a second-degree sunburn may experience fever, vomiting, dehydration and secondary infection, which often lead to hospitalization. Although the side effects of varying degrees of burns are vastly different, the lasting impact is the same.

When skin begins to peel, it is a sign the body is trying to rid itself of damaged cells. You can use many of the same techniques that apply to a non-peeling sunburn to get some relief.

Curcio says that getting out of the sun and treating a sunburn as soon as you notice it is the first step for healing sun-burned skin. Moisturizing will help soothe sunburned skin, but be careful to avoid petroleum-based or other oil-based creams.

These may trap heat and make your sunburn even worse. Once skin starts to peel, she adds, continue to moisturize your skin, which helps peeling skin heal faster. Be sure to take extra care to protect and cover peeling skin as it heals. It may be tempting to try to exfoliate a peeling sunburn in an attempt to remove the dead skin, but Dr.

As for protecting your new sunburn from the sun, either stay in the shade or use a physical or mineral sunscreen. As for other minor burns—and by minor, we mean first-degree burns or milder—the treatment is similar to that of a sunburn. Immediately apply a cool compress, and then follow up with a layer of a thick, fragrance-free emollient.

She recommends protecting skin with physical sunscreen to mitigate irritation. But anything more severe can—and probably will—create a scar, though its severity depends on the extent of damage. Hermann suggests using a scar cream as soon as the top layers of your skin have healed. Along with that, Dr.