BurnsMedical Author:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
N Stuart Harris, MD, MFA
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James Kimo Takayesu, MD
Burns OverviewHeat or chemical injury to the skin, nerves, blood vessels, and internal organs can cause burns. Burns that involve the hands, face, feet, genitals, or cover an extremity (arm or leg) or the chest are particularly dangerous. |
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Burns
Sunburn Overview
Sunburn results from too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure. Almost everyone has been sunburned or will become sunburned at some time. Anyone who visits a beach, goes fishing, works in the yard, or simply is out in the sun can get sunburned. Improper tanning bed use is also a source of sunburn. Although seldom fatal, severe sunburn or sun poisoning can be disabling and cause quite a bit of discomfort.
One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than double a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Morever, a person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns at any age.
Sunburn Causes
Sunburn is literally a burn on the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This burn causes inflammation of the skin. Injury from sunburn can begin within 30 minutes of exposure.
- UVA and UVB refer to different ...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Burns, Thermal »
Burn injuries account for an estimated 700,000 annual emergency department (ED) visits per year.
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