Sunburn & Hyperthermia

As August approaches, please consider these Summer warnings.

Sunburn. According to the American Skin Association, “There is no such thing as a healthy tan.” Dermatologists consider a tan as an injury. A tan is burned skin, with permanent damage to cells, which can lead to skin cancer. In addition to more serious problems, sunburn can cause pain, blistering and eventually dry, flaking skin.

Hyperthermia. Too much time in the sun, especially for the elderly who do not feel the heat buildup well, during high temperatures can lead to hyperthermia, or a body temperature which your system cannot regulate to keep you safe. Forms of hyperthermia include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Cramps occur after sweating has drained the body of the water, sodium, potassium, electrolytes and minerals needed by muscles for contractions. Heat exhaustion results in fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and a lack of coordination and mental acuity, and is caused by loss of water and salt. Heatstroke is the body’s inability to keep its temperature low enough to keep the body safe from overheating. It can lead to convulsions, delirium, coma and other central nervous system problems and eventually, death.

For Better Health,
Dr. Saracino