What are Sunburned Lips?
Sunburned lips are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. UV rays cause damage to skin cells and eventually lead to the death of these cells. The most common types of sun exposure include: tanning beds, direct sunlight, and indoor tanning booths. These forms of sun exposure may result in permanent or temporary changes in your skin.
The effects of sun exposure are not just limited to skin damage. They may also affect your immune system, reproductive organs, and even mental health.
The longer you spend in the sun without protection, the greater the risk of developing skin cancer and other illnesses such as premature aging. Sunburned lips can be a sign that you have been exposed to high levels of UV radiation for a prolonged period of time.
How Long Does It Take For Sunburned Lips To Heal?
It takes anywhere between 3 to 7 days for sunburned lips to fully recover. Most people will experience some redness and swelling at first, but after a few days the skin will return to its normal appearance. However, if you were exposed to very high levels of UV radiation for a long period of time, then your lips may never completely heal.
How Do Sunburned Lips Look Like?
The appearance of sunburned lips is quite similar to sunburn on other areas of your body. The most notable signs are peeling skin, redness, and swelling. The skin of your lips may also crack and feel dry. If you spend too much time in the sun, then you may even notice that your lips turn black or grey – a symptom known as “eschar” or skin death.
How Do Sunburned Lips Feel Like?
The feeling of having sunburned lips can vary between people. The most noticeable symptom is extreme dryness. This is because the skin has been damaged and cannot retain moisture in the same way as before. There is also a strong chance that you will experience mild pain and soreness in this area.
If you have developed eschar, then your lips may even crack open and bleed slightly. Most people who have sunburned lips will feel an urgent need to apply a balm or ointment of some kind in order to alleviate the dryness and pain.
How To Treat Sunburned Lips?
You should never attempt to self-medicate if you start noticing signs of sunburned lips. Instead, you should visit a doctor who can prescribe the necessary medication and recommend ways to improve your overall health.
The most effective way to treat sunburned lips is to wait for the skin to heal. This can take anywhere between 3 to 7 days, depending on various factors, such as the amount of sun exposure and your age.
It is also important that you avoid applying any types of balms or ointments to the injured area while you are waiting for your skin to heal. This is because these products can interfere with the healing process and can make the problem worse in the long run.
Sources & references used in this article:
The prevalence of chapped lips during an army hot weather exercise by JD Shulman, DL Lewis, WM Carpenter – Military medicine, 1997 – academic.oup.com
Preventing lip problems by EM de Simone – Journal of Modern Pharmacy, 1997 – journals.co.za
Concurrent anomalies: Cheilitis glandularis and double lip: Report of a case by DM Cohen, JG Green, SL Diekmann – Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral …, 1988 – Elsevier
Tips to help keep lips in tiptop shape by TF Payne, JF Nelson – 1974 – ARMY INST OF DENTAL …
In a sunburned country by B Bryson – 2010 – Random House
Absorption glasses by DB Burfeind – Dermatology Nursing, 2008 – go.gale.com
Lip balm composition by B Bryson – 2000 – books.google.com