Sunburn is the discoloration or the burning produced on the skin due to the heat of the sun. We can find many people suffering due to this problem. A lot of exposure to sun gives rise to sunburn. Any part of the body can get sunburn if it is exposed to the sunrays. People working in open areas or moving out in the bright sun and those goes for fishing and on beach are likely to get sunburn. There is a lot of discomfort and distress faced by a person due to sunburn. The only question arising in a person's mind suffering from sunburn is how to cure sunburn. However, before knowing this it is necessary to know the symptoms and the causes of sunburn.

The ultraviolet radiations emitting from the sun causes the skin to burn resulting into sunburn. This sunburn causes swelling and irritation of the skin. If one is exposed to sun even for 30 minutes the injury starts occurring. There are two wavelengths of the ultraviolet radiations emitting from the sun. They are namely UVA and UVB. These two wavelengths are responsible for causing early aging of the skin and sunburn.

UVB is most dangerous wavelengths of the ultraviolet radiations as it causes cancer to a person exposed to sun. Fair skin or light skin people have a larger threat of suffering from sunburn. If one is travelling at high altitude places and towards the equator suffers from sunburn immediately. It is recommended that one should keep himself/herself away from the sunrays due to its harmful effect. However, it should also not be forgotten that sunlight is essential for getting vitamin D. So a little exposure to sun is needed or is necessary.

Longer period of exposure to sun by a person already suffering from sunburn and not being treated properly results into his/her death. Before getting into such severe or problematic situations, it is better to take precautions at an earlier stage. For this, it becomes essential to know about the symptoms of sunburn. If the skin gets red and aggravated, then it is considered that the sunburn is uncomplicated and mild. The effects of sunburn can be felt by a person after 2-6 hours of skin being exposed to sun. Its severe symptoms can be observed after 12-24 hours. There is dehydration, loss of fluid, infection and electrolytic imbalance in a person suffering from sunburn. When the skin burns excessively, blisters come up in some extreme cases. In such cases, it is wiser to consult a doctor. However if the sunburn is mild it can be treated at home itself.

In order to avoid getting sunburn, one should prepare himself/herself before going out in the sun. Wearing full sleeves clothes, wide brimmed hats and finding out a shaded area can be effective when one is going out or while in sun. Medicines like Ibuprofen or aspirin can give relief from pain of sunburn. How to cure sunburn is not a difficult task, applying sunscreen lotion or cool jelly of aloe can prove to be of great relief from sunburn. Bathing with cold water and applying moisturizer after bath is also one remedy. Applying lotions containing anesthetic medications should be avoided. Doctors recommend non-steroidal, cool compresses and anti-inflammatory medicines for harsh sunburn. One should be least exposed to sun in order to get rid of sunburn.

Thus, sunburn can prove to be very hazardous situation and create many problems further. One should understand its severe consequences and find out suitable methods for how to cure sunburn.