Sunlight can help our mood and make us feel healthier. For people who have arthritis, the sun’s warmth relieves some of their physical pain. Many people still think that a suntan makes a person look young and healthy. But too much sun exposure can be harmful to the skin, causing immediate problems like sunburns as well as problems that may develop years later including wrinkles, skin cancer, and eye problems.

A sunburn is sign of skin damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most sunburns cause mild pain and redness but affect only the outer layer of skin (first-degree burn). The red skin might hurt when you touch it. These sunburns are mild and can usually be treated at home. Skin that is red, painful and blistered may mean that deep skin layers and nerve endings have been damaged (second-degree burn). This type of sunburn is usually more painful, requires extra care to prevent secondary infection and takes longer to heal.

Contact Dr. Heather Roberts for further information.