More severe cases of sunburn are actually sun poisoning. This is when severe burning and blistering, electrolyte imbalances, and severe dehydration occurs. With too much sun exposure, the result could be shock, where the organs start shutting down, or death. Immediate medical attention is needed.
Seek medical intervention if blisters cover more than 20 percent of your body. If you have chills, fever higher than 102 F, severe pain, and signs of dehydration like thirst, dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness and fatigue, see a doctor immediately.
Melanoma
Severe, life-threatening skin cancer. It begins in certain skin cells after damage from the sun or possibly family history. Before we get started, experts would like you to learn the “A,B,C,D and E” s of melanoma:
• A – Asymmetry, the two halves of the mole are not the same
• B – Border, the edges are ragged and irregular
• C – Color, uneven in color, may involve, black, brown, tan
• D – Diameter, change in size, usually increasing
• E – Evolving, mole is changing over time
Okay, so the part of the skin, or epidermis, that is affected by melanoma are the melanocytes, which is located in the last layer of the epidermis. These cells make melanin, the brown pigment that protects your skin from the sun. For most people, this mechanism allows a bit of tanning.