The term “sun poisoning” is non-scientific and is used as something of a catch-all to describe various allergic responses to too much time in the sun. It is more common among certain people than others and usually comes as a result of leisure activities at beaches, pools and sporting events. That’s why it’s important to keep covered if you’re going to spend more than 15 minutes in the great outdoors. For people with fair skin, that’s the length of time it can take at peak hours for the sun to have an effect on skin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute combined for a study that reported some 50 percent of young adults ages 18 through 29 sustained at least one sunburn in the last year. Although the survey does not account for the severity of the burns, any level can be problematic.
The Skin Cancer Foundation also did a survey and estimated that more than 40 percent of the population gets at least one sunburn per year. Continuous burning and healing will increase susceptibility to skin cancer, and it’s estimated that five or more sunburns per year doubles the risk for skin melanoma.
Cumulative sun exposure over the years can lead to Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, both likely to occur on the hands, face or ears, the areas most exposed to the sun. Factors like a family history of skin cancer, the level of skin melanin and even location on the planet can play a role.