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?

19 pages of the same advice .... Why do people think their suggestions haven't already been made by page 5...

OP hope you're ok

Hi @SansaStark90 How are you feeling today?

She didn’t go - her mother told her not to do she followed her advice not 111’s - they told her to go to a+e 🤷🏻‍♀️😖

Get medical advice, please. Call 111 or present at A&E. Burns can be very serious and you are clearly unwell.

My mother was a nurse. We had to be bleeding heavily or have broken bits to get sympathy.
She would have said to go to A&E immediately. Get there.

Soo 111 told me to go to a&e and said I sounded like I needed treatment for sunstroke. The nurses who assessed me couldn’t have been kinder and compassionate and said the same and that I’d need fluids, pain relief and dressings.

When I was called to see the doctor, he never even asked to see my body after I showed him my chest, as it’s my entire body. We couldn’t understand each other and he didn’t seem to know what a sunbed was. I’m not an assertive or confrontational person so I didn’t really know what to do. He sent me home with codeine.

I know this was self inflicted. But I do think I deserved at least to be fully assessed.

Are you feeling better today or still the same ?

Glad you've got some pain relief. Just a word of advice for in the future, If you're not happy with the answer you're given and feel like you're being fobbed off, tell them that that's how you feel and that you want to see someone else. Don't just leave because you'll only end up going back.

I’m very glad you went but sorry you didn’t seem to get the assessment you expected and probably needed. Could you go back?
How are you feeling tonight?

How much pain are you in now? Has the shaking stopped?

If the codeine is sufficient and you have stopped shaking then make an appointment with your gp in the morning. Keep you fluids up and rest.

If you are still in agony and still feel feverish, shaking etc… then you will have to go back.

Go back and see someone else.

OP, I've never done sunbeds because I'm blessed with the type of skin that burns incredibly easily, so I have been caught out many times, many childhood sunburns when they used to sell factor 2 and factor 4 suncream etc.

I have blistered, peeled and had a suspicious growth removed.

I burnt badly one time in NZ when I lived there. I bought some amazing aftersun that had lidocaine anaesthetic in, an Australian brand. I think you can buy it online here.

I'd really lay off the sunbeds though, the sun damaged skin on my shoulders is horrible.

You have the right to request a second opinion @SansaStark90

Jeez you have the right to have a second opinion. What a waste of time. Aloe vera is very good for burns. Make sure you keep hydrated, not just water though, other fluids too.

GP will be closed tomorrow. I would call 111 again.
I know when I was treated for a facial burn (not from the sun) I was given pain relief, antihistamines. hydrocortisone ointment and gauze bandages.

Oh God I am so sorry. Has the shaking stopped and have you been given anything for the pain?

Turkish barbers

I wish peope would stop trying to frighten OP. She already clearly regrets going on the sunbed, is in a lot of pain and feels embarrassed about the whole thing.

OP is an anxious person and will no doubt be worrying about the long term damage she may have caused. Reading something like this isn’t helpful at all.

Sometimes us humans do some daft things that we regret but can learn from, and I’m almost certain OP won’t be going back to the sunbeds in a hurry.

OP doesnt need other people judging her right now or purposely trying to worry her about cancer, I actually think it’s cruel of you to post the stats.

For clarity I’m aware sunbeds do raise the risk of cancer and they are really bad for you and no I wouldn’t use them now that I am an adult (I did do in my teens), but OP just wanted some help and reassurance not a telling off.

A bad burn will mean that you skin will bubble with fluid filled blisters. When these pop, the skin underneath will be delicate and red, they will crust over and can potentially get infected. On areas where your skin rubs on clothing (eg bra straps) or if you carry a bag or when you lie in bed, the blisters will pop and ooze. If they get infected, then you may scar. Those areas that have been most exposed, and when the skin is delicate, are more likely to get hit the worst. An example would be stomach, shoulders, back, tops of thighs etc

It will take time for the skin to blister- but if it's bad, it should be there, or thereabouts, happening now.

This is why the Dr should have examined you.

That doesn’t sound great OP.

So are your burns not dressed? Dressings help with the pain and prevent infection.

Can I just stress that the most initial important thing is the first aid, cool running water for 20 minutes, it helps the pain and stops the spread of the burn as much. So getting in the shower would be great for example. Burns change over time so your burns may get worse. Do not put anything on a burn as we have to clean it off in a&e!

I’m glad the nurses were great but the doctor sounds a bit useless.

So you didn't tell him that the nurse who had triaged you had said you'd need fluids, pain relief and dressings? Why couldn't you understand each other? Surely he spoke English.

I am definitely in the you never question medics camp, so had no idea I could request a second opinion.

I mean he could have offered me a cream at least. I was sat there in my pyjamas and not because of the time, I said these pyjamas normally fall down without being tied at the waistband but my body has swelled that they are just staying up! And it has been warm today but I’m sat there in a dry robe shivering (a warm fleeced coat.)

The shaking isn’t as bad though. I don’t know which pp told me about tomatoes. But I bought a dozen cans and have actually laid in the bath and smothered myself in them.

@SansaStark90 go back. I'm worried about you and I don't know you. You do need to be assertive sometimes. It doesn't matter a hoot if it was self-inflicted - in fact most injuries are!

@CustardySergeant some doctors from abroad aren't fluent in English or speak with a heavy accent making it difficult to understand them. Perhaps one of the nurses used to working with him could have helped with the communication difficulties?

I'm really sorry you are so badly burnt op and the doctor who assessed you sounds awful but I don't understand how you can have porcelain skin (like me) and still tan easily in the sun/go without SPF in Thailand, the two are usually mutually exclusive. I can't do two hours on a hot day in the UK without SPF.

@SansaStark90 as a nurse I’m telling you to go back. And I question medics all the bloody time. It’s how we keep our patients alive…

Have you got any actual skin loss?