Sun poisoning is a very severe sunburn that causes inflammation of the skin. A sunburn can happen after being in the sun for only 15 minutes. Symptoms such as pain and redness do not always show up right away.

Sunburns can cause blisters, peeling skin, sun spots and increase your risk of melanoma or skin cancer. Those with fair skin and light hair are more likely to get sun burned. Symptoms of sun poisoning include:
◾Blistering
◾Swelling
◾Pain
◾Tingling
◾Headache
◾Nausea
◾fever and chills
◾dehydration
◾dizziness

If you end up with sun poisoning, make sure to do the following:
◾Get out of the sun immediately
◾Stay hydrated!
◾Take a cool shower or place cool washcloths/towels on the burn area
◾Take Ibuprofen for pain relief
◾Apply aloe, solarcaine or moisturizer
◾Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and protective clothing over sunburns when going back outside

If your sunburn causes blisters over a large portion of the body, call your doctor. Also, look out for confusion, fever and swelling of the face.

Sun poisoning is dangerous and can cause a great deal of pain. The most important thing to do is always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, even on cloudy days. Put sunscreen on every two hours if you are outside all day. Also, be sure to check with your physician about your medications. Some medications can cause skin to be more sensitive to the sun. Protect yourself and your skin!