What Is Sun Poisoning?
Sun poisoning doesn't mean you've been poisoned. It's not a formal medical term, but when people talk about sun poisoning, they're usually talking about a severe sunburn that seems similar to an allergic reaction. It's a burn that doesn't just redden or darken your skin — it makes you feel sick and intensely uncomfortable. In some other cases, people might use the term sun poisoning to refer to actual allergic reactions to sunlight, which are rarer.
Sun Poisoning Symptoms
There's no such thing as a good sunburn. All sunburns are signs of damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays or the ultraviolet light from a tanning device. Multiple sunburns make your skin age faster and increase your risk of skin cancer in the long term.
In the short term, even a mild burn will turn your skin painfully red if you have light skin, or darker than usual if you have dark skin. It may also feel hot to the touch. Symptoms might last a few days. But a severe sunburn, or sun poisoning, can make you feel worse. It may cause:
- Blistering or peeling skin
- Severe rash
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Painful, gritty eyes
- Lip blisters
- Headache
- Fever and chills
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Some of these symptoms, such as pain and blistering, are a direct result of the damage to your skin. Others such as headache, nausea, and dizziness result from dehydration, which can happen because the burn draws fluid away from the rest of your body.
You might not realize how bad a sunburn is right away. The pain and skin color changes tend to start after a few hours and peak after 24 hours or so. While mild sunburn symptoms may fade quickly, some signs of a severe burn, such as peeling skin, might linger for weeks.
Heat rash vs. sun poisoning
While sun poisoning can cause a rash that's hot to the touch, it's not the same as a heat rash. A heat rash happens when sweat gets trapped in pores and glands, irritating your skin and causing an itchy, pimply rash. It's common in babies as well as in adults who live in humid climates.
Sunstroke vs. sun poisoning
Sunstroke and sun poisoning are not the same, either. Sunstroke, also known as heat stroke, is a life-threatening condition that happens when you get very overheated. You can get it from exercising too hard outside on a hot humid day. Some people get heatstroke from being in hot cars or homes without air-conditioning during heat waves.
Treating Sun Poisoning
At any sign of sunburn, your first move should be to get out of the sun, if you're still outside. You can start getting relief by:
- Taking a cool (not cold) shower or bath
- Applying cool compresses
- Drinking extra fluids
- Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease pain
- Using aloe gel or a moisturizer
- Completely covering sunburned areas when going outside
Severe sun poisoning treatment
If your sunburn is bad enough to seem like sun poisoning — with blisters, swelling, fevers, chills, upset stomach, headaches, confusion, faintness, or other signs of dehydration — you should see your doctor to make sure you get the right treatment. Those treatments might include:
- IV fluids
- Steroid creams or pills
- Prescription pain medications
- Antibiotics to apply on your skin
Sun poisoning scars
Most sunburns aren't severe enough to cause scarring. They are usually first-degree burns, which affect the skin's outer layers. Some are second-degree burns, which reach middle layers and can sometimes cause scarring. In rare cases, the sun can cause a third-degree burn — the most severe type, which reaches the deepest layers of skin. That kind of burn is most likely to leave scars. If you have a third-degree sunburn, you might need further treatments, including skin grafts, which are surgeries to move healthy skin to the damaged area.
With a milder burn, there are things you can do to protect your skin and aid the healing process. You should use petroleum gel or ointments suggested by your doctor to cover the damaged skin. And stop yourself if you have the urge to pop or peel blisters. It's better to let them heal on their own or seek medical help if blisters get very large.
How to Prevent Sun Poisoning
To prevent sunburn and sun poisoning, follow the basics of sun safety:
Wear sunscreen. Choose one with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30 that says "broad-spectrum" on the label, meaning that it protects against the sun's UVA and UVB rays. Apply it on your skin about 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Reapply at least every 2 hours and after you've been sweating or in the water.
Limit your sun exposure. The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so be especially mindful in those midday hours. Seek the shade when you can. And remember that water, snow, and sand can intensify the sun's damaging rays.
Cover up. Wear sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and clothing that covers arms and legs.
Avoid tanning booths and beds. You can get burned with a tanning device, just as you can when exposed to the sun. And it's a myth that getting a base tan with an indoor tanning session will protect you from burning outside — it won't. Also, tanning damages your skin.
Check on your medications. Ask your doctor if anything you take might make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. For example, some acne medications, antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics, heart drugs, and birth control pills make skin more sensitive. So can some antibacterial medications and fragrances that go on your skin.
Know your other risks. If you have fair skin, a family history of skin cancer, or if you live or spend time near the equator, your risks of getting burned and developing sun poisoning are higher. Some medical conditions, such as lupus, may also raise your risk and give you extra reason to avoid too much sun exposure.
Can people with dark skin get sun poisoning?
Yes, while people with fair skin, especially those with blue eyes and red or blonde hair, are at the highest risk, people with any color of skin can get sunburns and the symptoms of sun poisoning. The extra pigment, called melanin, in darker skin offers only partial protection from burning. Sun protection measures, like sunscreen, work just as well on dark skin as on light skin.
Other Types of Sun Poisoning
If someone says they've had sun poisoning, they might not be talking about a severe sunburn. The term is also sometimes used to refer to other reactions to sunlight, which are considered sun allergies. These include:
Polymorphous light eruption (PMLE)
PMLE is a rash that happens after sun exposure and is seen in about 15% of people worldwide. The causes aren't clear, but many people prone to PMLE get a breakout in the spring, when sunny weather increases, or when they take vacations to sunnier climates than they are used to. It's possible that when you get this rash, your immune system is reacting to a chemical change in your skin caused by light exposure.
The skin rash usually shows up several hours after going out in the sun. The rash may be itchy and can include:
- Small red bumps
- Larger red patches
- Blisters (less common)
Other less common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
Treatment for PMLE mostly involves staying out of the sun and protecting yourself when you are in the sun. The rash can clear by itself within a few days. And you may become less sensitive to the sun over time.
If needed, your doctor might recommend antihistamines or other medicines.
If you're prone to severe PMLE when you go on a sunny vacation, your doctor might prescribe a corticosteroid medicine, such as prednisone, to avoid a rash.
Note: A similar condition called actinic prurigo occurs mainly in Native Americans and appears to be inherited. Symptoms can start in spring and persist for months.
Solar urticaria
This is a form of sun allergy in which you get hives — raised, red, itchy, or burning bumps — within minutes of exposure to sunlight. The rash may go away as quickly as it appeared or linger for a few hours. It rarely lasts more than a day.
If large areas of your skin break out in hives, you might also get:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Breathing problems
If you have frequent or severe symptoms, your doctor might test you to see what kind of light triggers your hives. The most common causes are UVA (ultraviolet A) light and visible light from the sun. Using the right sunscreen can help with UVA light but not visible light, so people sensitive to visible light need extra protection, such as clothing and shade, when they go outside.
Treatment can include antihistamines and other medicines to control hives. Your doctor might also suggest putting protective film on your car windows.
Takeaways
Whether you call it sun poisoning or not, getting a severe sunburn or a bad allergic rash from sun exposure can make you miserable and put a damper on your outdoor plans. That's all the more reason to know your risks and protect yourself, with sunscreen, shade, and the right clothing. If you think you have a sunburn or a rash that looks like sun poisoning, check in with your doctor and get the right treatment.
Sun Poisoning FAQs
What's the fastest way to get rid of sun poisoning?
If you are thinking about sun poisoning from sunburn, there's no shortcut. You can't unburn your skin. But if you stay out of the sun, follow your doctor's treatment plan, and protect your skin while it's healing, you'll likely feel better and your skin will return to its usual color within a few days, in most cases. A severe burn takes longer to heal.
If you are thinking of sun allergies, the first step is to avoid the sun while your skin is recovering. You can soothe your skin with cool, damp washcloths. And an antihistamine might help your rash clear up faster. But, since rashes can have many causes, it's best to get your doctor's advice before trying medication.
Can too much sun make you feel sick?
Too much sun can make you feel sick in several different ways. It can not only cause sunburns or sun allergy rashes but also lead to heat illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. You can protect yourself by limiting your time in the sun, especially on hot days, drinking plenty of water, and pacing yourself if you need to work outside.
Can sun poisoning cause white spots on your skin?
One long-term effect of severe sunburns and other forms of sun damage may be a condition called idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, sometimes called sun spots. These are small white spots that some people get on their skin as they age. They're like white freckles and are harmless. The condition runs in families and is most often seen in fair-skinned people, especially on skin that's had a lot of sun exposure.
