Sunburn

This passage discusses what happens when you get a sunburn and how it can affect your body.

Lexile Level: 1140L

Categories: Sports & Health

Staying out in the sun for too long and without the proper protection can cause sunburn. Sunburn is an inflammation of the skin. People with sunburn usually have red, painful skin. If the sunburn is really bad, they might experience fever, blisters, and nausea. The best treatments for sunburn are cool baths, moist compresses, and applying baby lotion or cold cream to relieve pain and discomfort. Once the sunburn starts to heal, the skin will either turn tan or peel. Frequent sunburns put people at a higher risk for skin cancer because sunburns damage the skin, causing wrinkles, discoloration, and sagging. The best way to prevent sunburn is to limit the time you spend in the sun and use sunscreen. You should try to stay out of the sun between noon and 3 o'clock, which is when the sun is the strongest, and use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater.