In the state of Florida, the heat index can become quite high in the summer. While it’s tempting to stay outside in the glorious sunshine, this can cause sunburns, even if you’ve put on generous amounts of sunscreen.
If you’ve been out in the sun and don’t feel so well, here are some signs of sunburn infection and whether you need medical care.
Signs of Sunburn
An unpleasant side effect of being in the sun is sunburn. Mild symptoms of this condition include pain, redness, and swelling on the affected sites. In addition, the areas may be hot to the touch.
It can also make you feel fatigued and worn down. This is because the sun saps energy from you while you’re outdoors.
With mild sunburns, all you need to do to recover is to drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, and avoid scratching. You can put on aloe vera or hydrocortisone creams to soothe the pain.
Severe Sunburn
Whether it’s from overexposure or sensitivity caused by genetics or medications, you may experience severe sunburns at times. In addition to the symptoms from above, you might also have boils and blisters, as well as a severe headache from dehydration.
Although it’s tempting, don’t pop or pick your boils and blisters. Broken skin increases the chances of infection. If it happens on accident, wash the area with just water, no soap, apply antibacterial cream, and bandage it loosely with petroleum.
Signs of Sunburn Infection
Even with the best care possible, you still may get a sunburn infection if you have broken skin. The signs of sunburn infection include more intense pain, swelling, tenderness, a fever, and yellow pus. In more extreme cases, you may feel dizzy and have vision problems.
When to Seek Medical Care
Sunburn blisters and boils aren’t an automatic sign for you to get medical treatment. But if more than 20% of your body is covered in them, you’ll want to go to urgent care.
Same goes for if you have a fever or are dizzy and have issues with vision. Fever is usually a sign of infection, and with any dizziness and vision issues, this may indicate you have heatstroke.
If you’re unsure of whether or not you need medical treatment, always err on the side of caution. It’s better to get peace of mind rather than put off a trip to the hospital until it’s too late.
Don’t Wait for Treatment
When you have a sunburn infection, it can be a very nasty thing to deal with. Not only that, but if you let it go on, it can lead to more serious complications. If you or a loved one has a sunburn infection, get prompt medical attention so you can get relief and promote healing.
Do you or a family member have a sunburn infection or other ailment? Then come visit our urgent care center now.
