Summer may be over in the Western Hemisphere by now, but that doesn’t mean that sunburn stops for the season. Many of us might be familiar with the heated skin and gnarly new tanlines that follow us home after a day spent under the sun – but what happens when sunburn becomes serious?
While “sun poisoning” is not an official medical diagnosis, it’s a term many doctors use to refer to this kind of intense sunburn.
If you haven’t heard of it before, it might be even more difficult to gauge what it is and what to do if you get it. Here is what you need to know about sun poisoning and how to avoid it.
What is Sun Poisoning?
The term “sun poisoning” itself can be a bit misleading. You’re not actually “poisoned,” per se. According to Harvard Health, sun poisoning actually encapsulates a much more severe degree of sunburn than your typical post-sunbathing redness.
