Beautician Sirin Murad fell asleep on a Bulgarian beach for just 30 minutes. When she woke up, she was in utter disbelief at the condition of her forehead. The 25-year-old hadn’t applied any sunscreen on her face and woke up half an hour later by a pool. Initially, she only felt her face was a little sore and red and continued to relax by the pool at 21ºC. However, the effect of the long and sunscreen-less exposure was evident the next day. Has sunlight cause sunburn that affected her face?
A British woman took a restful siesta while on a holiday in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Little did she know that she will wake up after 30 minutes with her forehead looking like plastic. The effect was due to sunburn. There are various categories of sunburn depending upon the exposure and skin involvement.
According to an article published by John Hopkins University, the best way to protect yourself against the damaging effects of the sun is to limit exposure and protect your skin.
Here are a few tips from the American Academy of Dermatology:
- Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. Broad spectrum means the sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Re-apply about every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
- Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, whenever possible. Look for clothing with a UV protection factor (UPF) or made of a tightly woven fabric.
- Seek shade when appropriate. Remember that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. They reflect the damaging rays of the sun. This can increase your chances of sunburn.
References
- https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/woman-who-fell-asleep-in-sun-for-30-minutes-wakes-up-with-a-plastic-forehead-article-93687039
- https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/british-women-plastic-forehead-sunburn-sun-damage-causes-prevention-8105103/
- https://www.livemint.com/science/health/plastic-forehead-sunscreen-less-exposure-to-sunrays-can-damage-your-skin-11661159288779.html