Sunburns, as we all know are caused by the contact of extremely harmful UV rays of the sun with bare skin for a prolonged period of time. There are two categories of sunburn, divided into first-degree sunburn and second-degree sunburn. Second degree sunburn is generally regarded to be quite major and requiring treatment of any sort, whereas first degree sunburn is classified as little to moderate sunburn, in which the symptoms vanish quite sooner. No extensive treatment is required for them.

Giving sunburns of the first degree a little time to heal will generally deal with it quite easily. Sunburn of the second degree is caused by excessive exposure to the sun's rays for quite a long period of time, but people with fair or pale skin and people with freckles or with hair of a reddish tinge with fair colored eyes seem to be more prone to this kind of exposure. People with these body and skin characteristics have been observed to get sunburn of the second degree more than that of the first degree.

Second degree sunburn is not quite rare but it comes up to be a huge problem to people suffering from it. Sunburn of the second degree often comes with large, pus filled blisters and flaky skin. These type of sunburns can also lead to a different infection altogether if not taken proper care of. People suffering from this are most likely to feel nauseated and disoriented, and few have also complained of shivers and fever as symptoms. One can let them be healed with time, but it is not worth the stinging pain and discomfort, one would feel with every passing day. It is better to bring it under control by taking medicines of painkiller nature, and by applying lotions, which offer relief.

You can apply a range of lotions containing benzedione or calamine, as they will help soothe your skin and treat the sunburn at the same time. Before applying any over the counter lotions, it is necessary for you to talk to your physician regarding the same. He would be able to tell you if any specific lotion will work best for you and about lotion, which may clash with your medical history. If you are experiencing a lot of pain due to second degree sunburn, which is highly likely, you can also have painkillers according to your doctor. Never pop or squeeze the blisters on your burn. It is also not advisable to apply any lotion or cream on them because of the risk of them bursting prematurely and causing you more pain and inconvenience.

In the end, it can be said that sunburns of the second degree do hurt a lot, but it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medicines. In addition, prevention is better than cure, so if you are quite prone to excessive and painful sunburn, you should cover yourself up before stepping out in the sun and apply sunscreen of SPF above 20.