Historical sunburn still causing pain

[Needanewadventure2021]

Hey

Abit random but when I was 17 I went on holiday and my shin got severely sunburnt whilst in the shade. It was so bad I had to fly home early and recovery took a while.

Fast forward to now, 19 year later I still notice the area is very sensitive especially when the warm weather comes along. It tingles, aches and is generally uncomfortable. I touch it and it still feels sore like my nerves are firing. I have no marks or moles to be concerned of, but the skin on my shin is very dry. It does concern me all the same though as it's always the shin that I servely burnt when I was younger.

Struggling to get in the doctors but will continue trying but was wondering if anyone has experienced historical (healed) sunburn that is still sensitive and uncomfortable several years on?

T.I.A

Easy to get burned even in the shade.

I expect it's now effectively scar tissue so it's right and responds when there is a change in temperature. It wouldn't hurt to massage it frequently to loosen the scarred area up - at least 3 mins at a time ,time it because that quite a long time. I'd use something that has Silicone in it which is excellent for scar healing. It's a long time on but you've nothing to lose by trying it. You could also use silicone sheets too which you can cut to size.

**TIGHT not right

It was a burn, simple as that. With burns you can damage the surface skin and nerve endings can lose the cover that prevents nerve pain. Nothing you can do about it I'm afraid. Not severe enough for pain killers.

Do you cross your legs a lot? That can cause a dent iirc. And it could have been there a while and you've just noticed it now because you're paying more attention to the area.

I wouldn't worry about the dent, op. Certainly mention it to docs to be safe, but I think they're quite normal. I have one in my shin as does a friend.

I'd be more concerned about your skin sensitivity. Has it always been so sensitive (since the burn) or has it got worse recently?

I think given how severe your burn was you will always have to keep the area covered and physically barriered from the sun. Wear the highest factor sunscreen everywhere else and be especially careful at keeping your skin covered and shaded if on any medications that increase photosensitivity.

How was the original burn treated? I'm surprised it didn't require hospital treatment tbh, a burn like that would have been an a&e situation. It sounds like 2nd degree sunburn at the very least.

You're right to be watchful for possible cancerous changes given how pale you are and especially after a burn like that. It might help your peace of mind to have annual skin checks at the doctors where they examine your skin for signs. These are often recommended for those who've had dogdy moles.

I'd certainly photograph it in good, even light every year with a tape measure alongside you'd leg, for reference and monitoring. You'll probably need someone to help you do this.

I'm not medically trained at all but i suspect the severity of the burn left you with permanent nerve damage in the area if its never healed properly.

If your gp gives you the clear you might like to see if you can afford a private appt with a dermatologist to put your mind at rest and give you any further advice.

Thanks for all your kind responses. It has helped but I can still feel it bothering me in the back of my mind. I've emailed my GP as can never get seen and I would like to get some reassurance before I go away.

I've always had painful lower legs. I have a vitamin D deficiency which I know doesn't help but this pain and feeling is definitely in the burned area in my shin.

The burn was terrible and I learned my lesson that day that you can burn on an overcast day. It's probably why I'm not a massive fan of the sun. I cant sit out in it and bathe. I will tolerate it if I am doing something. My skin was never as fair as it is now. That changed in my early 20s. I used to go a golden colour. Now I barely get a tint!

I certainly can understand the nerve comments. It does feel like the nerves are firing. My leg actually feels like it's a stingy burn at the moment

I'm driving myself mad. I cant stop looking at this dip in my shin. It feels like there is nothing under it. The area around it feels like the skin is on top of something. The 'dip' feels like a hole (the size of the dip).
I've just tried to photograph it and you cannot see a thing but you can definitely see it and feel it.
I have pain all in my knee and in the base of my foot now too and feel sick. Though the sick feeling could be down to worry. Am I right in thinking the walk in will just refer me to GP on the week?

I would think so. You need to distract yourself and try not to obsess over it.

What are you worried that the dip is?

It's honestly genuinely unlikely to be anything serious. Bodies aren't always perfectly symmetrical and stuff like how you fit can cause changes.

Stop feeling and photographing this "dip" and use the strategies you developed when you had HA before. It sounds like you're sitting feeling and looking at this and it has made you somewhat fixated. The memories of this unpleasant sunburn may also be causing the varied sensations in your body as you relive the experience.

Even if if is just superficial nerve damage, you know why it's there - the historical burn. So it's nothing sinister, no mystery and no progression over however many years.

But it may be worth requesting some CBT for your health anxiety. It's horrible suffering like this, and it may be "the dip" today but it'll be something else after that. Better to recover and have all this energy to put into positive things in your life rather than worry.

You can certainly burn on a cloudy day. That's drummed into us in Australia!

I really feel for you with the health anxiety. Anxiety can be truly crippling.

Again thank you all. And you are all so right. I have become fixated on it.
Its been a rough road with my son's additional needs this last year. He has become so dependent on me and I've lost myself completely. I do nothing for myself or even know what I enjoy anymore! I've become obsessed with this pain and dip fearing the worst because I know how much he needs me. It's just me and him. So that will trigger me HA.
I've emailed the doctors so I hope I can be seen before our holiday. Also the fact that the burn happened so long ago and it is still causing me discomfort I could kick myself for being so stupid. I probably need to address how I feel about myself etc

Hi all

Just to update I feel dreadful. Leg pain is horrible. My knee and ankle and foot are also uncomfortable now. I feel sick, have the worst back pain and very very dark stools.

I have a call with the doctor this afternoon so hopefully he will send me for some bloods at least. Hopefully it's all coincidence but I do feel awful and can't explain why my leg is hurting so much

Hope all is ok OP, good they you have an appt.

**that

Doctor believes it is nerve damage and has prescribed Amitriptyline. However I've had experience of that before and don't believe I should be taking it as it makes me extremely drowsy and I have to care for a child during the night.
Being sent for bloods and need to give a stool sample. No xray though as he said it wouldn't show anything.
Pain wise I'm just going to have to deal with it

You could try a low dose of the amitriptyline, my dh takes it and side effects wore off after 3 weeks and he was no longer sleepy .