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?

I did understand when he said no petroleum jelly. See guys, I’m learning. Anyone a game of thrones fan? Hence the name. I’m a slow learner. It’s true. But I do learn. Was Sansa starts iconic quote to me. I do learn the hard way.

Right im putting the phone down and trying to give my head a wobble as I do feel a little delirious. Im not the best on no sleep. So zero sleep for two nights and immense pain.

Thank you for this.
As someone who used sunbeds many years ago when I was very young (but hasn’t been on one for over 20 years), this thread has really triggered my health anxiety. Thank you for this interpretation of the statistics. Im going to stop reading the thread now before something else frightens me to death!

OP, I agree - do go back to A&E. You'll probably see someone different. Surely they have treatment for burns and some pain relief.

Feel very sorry for you! I would not have known about 20 mins either.

I hope you get better treatment this time x

Are you safe to make your way to A&E? You sound very ill.

Irish heritage and workhouse white here and rarely burn. Rarely tan but rarely burn. I have family members who burn within minutes. I swear by petroleum jelly and ice packs on burns ( and I know my stuff because I am accident prone). A nurse told me it is a good treatment but they don't recommend it anymore because it's flammable and there were incidents with cigarettes.

I’m so sorry you’re in so much pain with this 😬. Just to give my experience…I got incredibly burnt having PUVA light treatment for my psoriasis many years ago (basically uva light unit and you take a tablet to make you more sensitive to it).. it was all time monitored at the hospital but on one occasion my thighs got so burnt I could barely move my legs. I can’t imagine having that level of burn all over ☹️. Definitely go to a&e to get it checked over especially if you’re feeling unwell with it. Hope you feel better very soon

OP I'm from a very hot country with harsh UV. One of the worst. If your skin is at the stage of large blistering or large areas of swelling you must go back to A&E because you are at risk of infection which is the killer. If you believe you have sunstroke or are in shock you must go back to A&E.

If not, fluid and rest. Your first image looked like average southern hemisphere sunburn but you describe something different.

Also, for burns, a gentle COLD shower. 20 minutes of cold running water, gentle pat dry if possible and if skin has been burnt where the epidermis is exposed then cling film wrapped over exposed areas is essential to prevent infection.

That's it OP. The rest ignore, but going back to A&E would help your anxiety if nothing else.

I spent a week at the beach in California with my relatives when I was 12 - we’d pack a big cooler and play in the surf all day.
And as a reward I got the worst sunburn of my life and spent every night vomiting.
And then every day we’d be back on the beach, playing in the surf.
I never got skin cancer - I don’t know why.
There’s nothing wrong with your skin colour as it is. Don’t risk everything to change it.

No, not cold water! Cool or lukewarm water

OP. Look at the advice on the NHS website or follow the instructions from 111, not randoms on Mumsnet

OP I hope you are back at A&E or will be there shortly. I hope you are safe as you sound very poorly. Please do not leave without proper treatment. You can do this - you have got to.

@BloominNora Thanks so much for explaining the statistics. I too get annoyed by how statistics get misinterpreted (even the BBC does it!) and then people spread scare stories. It's good to learn the truth.

I feel for you OP. I am white as a ghost so couldn’t tan if I tried. If I am not wearing factor 1000 I burn quickly. So clearly, even though I generally very very careful, I have ben caught out when the weather is cloudy but the UV is high. I have been burnt pretty badly and had sunstroke. I always feel like a complete idiot when I have done it to myself when I know to be more careful. We all do stupid things sometimes. The pain is crazy. I remember just having a cool soaked towel over me at night for about a week. It does pass though. Just don’t get go use a sunbed again. They just aren’t worth it. Go for a fake spray.

Really sorry you’re going through this. Self inflicted or not makes no difference, every single one of us has does something daft. Hopefully in a few days the worst will have passed.

OP I'm a bit worried about you. I hope you get heard at a+e this time. Do come back and tell us when things get better, and take care.

Can you go to a hospital that has a burns unit eg Salisbury?

I've read all of your posts, and I imagine the pain must be enormous. I don't know how you're typing so eloquently, well done! I really hope you get some relief soon, I can just imagine the pain from having had a few sunburns in my time (milky white Irish too), but never as bad as what it sounds like you have.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that the juxtaposition of your mum's heritage with a dad from Kildare was funny. You're doing brilliantly to have your sense of humour intact at the minute. When you can, please keep us updated, just for those of us who are concerned for you 😔

Are they now an awful lot more powerful than they were in the 1980s? I’m sure I did 15 minutes and barely got a colour at all. I’m fair-skinned and never tan. I was 17 at the time and thought having a tan was everything.

There is very little that can be done, it’ll take time for your skin to recover. Regular painkillers and stay hydrated. Only areas that actually blister or have skin loss need covering with dressings. Cool baths/showers and a plain moisturiser like aqueous cream can help soothe your skin.

I'm very glad you went to A and E and am sorry the doctor wasn't great. Glad you're returning. You've been in my thoughts
. Please update when you can.

@SansaStark90

I had a quick look through your previous posts and notice that you have had a recent course of antibiotics.
Have you mentioned this to 111/A&E at all? Some antibiotics can cause increased photosensitivity. Many have warnings to avoid sun exposure. I am not sure exactly what the connection is, but it might also be applicable to sunbeds, so could be worth mentioning in case it changes their advice.

I’m Also like this, so pale I look dead in winter, but I tan really easily and well and have never had sunburn even when I was a stupid kid slathering myself in baby oil. I always put it down to having a mother who is super pale and ginger-ish and a father who has super tanned skin.
it’s possible to be pale and olive toned.

I hope you’re ok OP. That sounds awful.

I find it very hard to believe that anyone would keep posting for advice on a serious medical condition on Mumsnet for over 24 hours!! This makes absolutely no sense!!!!!

Except that no-one knows how many of those 204 (or any of the people that get it but don't die) have actually used sunbeds. It is only one of many factors, including genetics with the biggest risk factor being exposure to the sun (whether you get burned or not), which people can't avoid any more than they can avoid roads making the comparison to RTAs perfectly valid! Not to mention most people who use sunbeds also tend to sunbathe a lot which also increases risk factors.

I know four people who've had melanomas- none of them ever used sunbeds!

The fact that UV light is categorised as a class 1 carcinogen by WHO is irrelavant to the risk levels. There are over 120 things on that list including tap water (because of natural arsenic levels and the risk of long term injestion), red and processed meats, the contraceptive pill and diesel engine fumes.

Yes - sunbeds are a choice (not one I would do by the way - I only have to be in the sun for 10 minutes without factor 50 on and I burn!) but it is a risk people can choose to take, in the same way they can choose to drink alcohol, smoke, take the pill and eat bacon knowing that all of those things could 'potentially' increase their chance of developing cancer.

I fully agree with being clear about risks and making sure people have the right information to make informed choices. But that means being clear about just how significant or not those risks are and not using hyperbole and over inflated statistics without context to spread fear.

You came on a thread where someone, who said they had health anxiety, was in pain and seeking advice, stated made up numbers and over dramatised the risk of metastasis.

Obesity and being overweight are also classed as a preventable cause of cancer and come with double the risk of cancer that UV radiation does - but I doubt you go posting on the weightloss board in the same way.

I did shudder at the tomato suggestion- tomato juice is acidic fgs.