Sunbed Shock

[SansaStark90]

I’ve been really stupid and gone on the sunbed for twenty minutes and the burns I’ve got - I’ve never seen skin as red. I’ve got like indents to my skin as though I’ve woken to stretch marks on my chest. Will these disappear? I’m in agony. I’ve never burnt and so didn’t know it could cause this kind of pain. I’m shaking shivering. I did this yesterday. Can someone reassure my health anxiety that these indents will all calm down?

Better to listen to medical people rather than your mum @SansaStark90

You sound seriously ill to me, and in need of fluid replacement via I/V and pain relief.

Please ignore your mother (she's completely wrong) and go immediately to hospital.

Oh OP, please go to a&e. They can help you!

Oh my god… you say you have health anxiety and yet still did this? Sun beds have been banned in Australia since 2015 because of their exponential link to skin cancers. I didn’t think people still did that!

You need a&e, especially as the burn covers a large area

Hope you’ve gone to A and E. I used sunbeds in my 20s but not for long. Have had melanoma in my 50s. Can’t understand why they haven’t been banned in the Uk.
You’ll get through this. Report the salon to trading standards; surely 20 mins is way over the limit. I can remember the smell after maybe 5? How stupid were we back then.

Seriously! I think people still do, though. There are harsh winters where I live but the weather starts heating up on the odd day around late April. After a long winter, on the first random hot day there are lots and lots of young women around with smooth, deep tans - and not because they're biracial or Latina, these are white people. I'm sure the tans aren't out of a bottle, they're just too deep and natural. In recent years I've reflected that they must be using sunbeds over the winter to suddenly appear with such great tans the second the sun peeps out in spring.

At the local pool in the summer, young women are always frying themselves in the intense midday sun, too.

You can't put an old head on young shoulders, unfortunately!

Oh poor OP! How's your skin?

Don't blame yourself - you just made a mistake, that's all. There's no way I would have known that you shouldn't do twenty minutes. I'd have assumed that's standard!

I attempted to go on a sunbed once, at my local leisure centre. The light was so bright I couldn't even get into the machine, so I ended up not doing it. The idiots on the desk were supposed to give me eye shields but they didn't. And there was no oversight on the timing either - I guess I could easily have lain there for ages.

Aloe vera gel is supposed to be good for burns.

Sending you cyber-hugs and sympathy. 💐💐

This isn't just pain - your skin is the largest organ in (on) your body.

The swelling and indentations sound like lymphedema, basically your body is sending blood and lymph fluid to your skin and extremities because you've given the skin a massive trauma.

That swelling will pull the burned skin tighter, so it hurts more.

Eventually fluid may gather under some layers of skin and form blisters.

Until that inflammatory reaction calms down and your body rebalances itself, lymph fluid starts draining, electrolytes restored, you are going to feel bloody awful, and the pain is likely to go on longer than that.

You can speed healing up a bit by ensuring you're drinking LOADS of fluids, including some electrolyte drinks (dioralyte for example), and keeping your skin cool, possibly damp (to aid cooling) and avoid friction. Taking a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol (assuming you personally are safe to take both) can help.

I would see a pharmacist in the morning, they'll be able to advise you on further treatment.

If you can lie in a cool bath I would - you're not going to significantly increase the risk of cellulitis by doing that (if you had open blisters and then fancied a swim in a lake or river, yes, but in your own bath, no) and you will cool down the skin and hydrate the very outer layer.

If I were you, I would go to A and E or the chemist and obtain special strong cream for burns. It is so good.
Drink water, take Panadol, rest and do not go out into the sun at all for a few weeks.
Once you are healing nicely apply Aloe Vera gel.

Use sunscreen always on exposed skin.

I honestly didn't think sunbeds were still legal. I thought they'd gone the way of smoking in restaurants.

Your mum has given you terrible advice. You absolutely should go to A&E. What you have is a lot more than a bit of sunburn.

You've had some good advice in this thread.

I would ignore your mum and go to A&E. Wear soft loose clothes which won't rub against your skin any more than necessary and drink lots and lots of water. Aloe vera gel is good once your skin has got used to the shock. Keep it in the fridge for extra cool loveliness.

Please don't ever use a sunbed again, and wear high SPF in the sun. Having a tan just isn't worth the pain of sunburn, much less the risk of skin cancer. Embrace your lovely pale skin, or if you must, use tanning drops in your moisturiser for a bit of colour.

I had some bad sunburn in my youth and now I wear SPF every day and get my skin checked by the dermatologist every couple of years. They can do a full body check with a special light and check for any abnormal looking marks.

I really think sunbeds should be banned. So many people just don't realise how dangerous they are.

I worked in a sunbed shop as my first job for 2 months, a long long time ago. I was lead to believe that legally we have to ask:

When was your last session? Then refuse anyone who was within the same 24 hour period and refuse anyone doing over 6 minutes who had not tanned in the last week. We also had to be shown their eye protection, if they did not have it we legally had to ensure they took ours with them.

I have googled to confirm this and can't find anything but this was a core part of my training and then owner was very clear they would (rightly!) be reported to trading standards if these rules were not followed. This was 10+ years ago and I would have thought things would get stricter in that time!

I think this shop absolutely needs reporting OP, I know you said it was a young girl not taking much notice but she has clearly not been given any/enough training and the shop is operating dangerously as a result.

How are you feeling today? I hope you got some treatment, you must be so sore. Ignore the horrible comments.

Please don’t feel silly about going to A&E. I actually did similar when I was much much younger about 20 years ago - but I only went on for 8 minutes, I think, I also have very fair skin. I eventually took myself to A&E on the bus! I felt stupid but they gave me a lotion (can’t remember what it was) and it really helped. They didn’t make me feel stupid and I’m glad I went. Haven’t touched one since!! Good luck! X

I think they gave me a big bottle of calamine and zinc oxide!

Hope you have gone to A and E and got some help.

Well I hope you don’t come to regret your use in years to come. Melanoma can occur many years after sunburn, be it from the sun or sun bed use. I just hope users take note from the warnings on here but I somehow doubt it.

@SansaStark90 take 2x dioralyte and get some Greek yogurt and cover your self in it and let it dry throw a towel on the bed as it will flake on the sheets but it takes the burn away x

This is way beyond “water and panadol” - OP should be in hospital, probably on a drip to prevent dehydration and under supervision to prevent sepsis.

Please never use a sunbed again. I don’t understand why somebody with health anxiety would use something that increases your chances of malignant melanoma.

I am convinced that in 20 years time, sunbeds will be banned and people will be shocked that we ever used them.

I’m sorry that you’re suffering now. We all make mistakes. Get some fluids and treatment and I am sure within a week you will be back to your normal self. Good luck.

I used to use them years ago I don’t think I ever did more than 8 minutes. I wouldn’t ever use them now. Surely they should have checked with you if you had used before. Have you tried a cool shower? If they are still swollen or weeping you need a&e.

You are meant to go to A&E if you have sunburn larger than a hand size / white areas which indicate deep burns - you could go into shock - Please ignore your mother she clearly does not understand and get yourself to the hospital.

When to go to A&E:
Severe sunburn: If you have blisters, significant swelling, or a high fever (38°C or above, or 37.5°C or above in children under five).

Symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke: These include feeling very tired, dizzy, sick, or having a headache and muscle cramps.

Suspected dehydration, shock, or sepsis:These are serious conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Any burn to the eyes, mouth, hands, or genitals, even if mild: These areas are more sensitive and prone to complications.

Large burns (larger than the size of the palm of the hand): These burns require specialized care.

Deep burns that cause white or charred skin: These indicate a deeper burn and may need specialized burns unit care.

When to see a GP or call NHS 111:
If you have blisters or swelling.

If you feel unwell or have any concerns about your sunburn, especially if it's over a large area.

If you have a high temperature (fever).

OP- agree with others that you MUST go to A&E - get medical advice ASAP and by doing that you will put your mind at rest about getting the proper treatment for it. Additionally, they can prescribe stronger painkillers for you and get you some relief.

Dont put anything on it until you've spoken to a doctor. There are lots of home remedies online but you need to check with a doctor first that they are safe.

In the meantime, agree with drinking lots of water with an electrolyte sachet in it- staying very hydrated and wearing cool loose clothing.

One of my friends got very badly burnt a few years ago- he fell asleep on the beach and woke up 4 hours later with third degree burns. His face swelled up so much his eyes couldnt open properly and he blistered all over his body. To put your mind at rest- he fully recovered and his skin looks absolutely fine and back to normal but he did get medical treatment. Also, be aware that after a severe sunburn like this you will be more vulnerable to the sun in future and at an increased risk of melanoma so ensure to wear a very high spf when you have recovered whenever you go out in the sun again, even if its for short periods.