With a rare red warning in place for many parts of England and Wales, Brits are urged to take as many safety precautions as possible to protect themselves.
One of the most dreaded side effects of staying out in the baking heat too long is the risk of being sunburnt. This is when the skin gets too hot and becomes sore, often leading to inflamed and painful skin that feels hot to the touch.
Sunburn is the skin's reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage and can cause long-term damage. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even though the painful effects of sunburn will fade away, lasting damage can still remain.
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It explains: "Sunburn accelerates skin ageing and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Sunburn is bad news, but the good news is that it’s totally preventable."
One easy way many people will avoid the sun is by hiding under shade for a bit, however, it may be surprising to hear that you can still get sunburnt even when taking shelter in the shade. Common places that provide shade, such as trees, will have holes or gaps which can allow for UV radiation to continue penetrating the skin.
It is also important to note that UV radiation can reflect off surfaces and hit you while you're under shade. For example, light surfaces such as concrete and sand can reflect as much as 25 per cent of UV radiation from the sun which means that if you're under a beach umbrella next to the coast, your skin could still get damaged.
How to treat sunburn
If you begin showing the symptoms of sunburn, the first thing you should do it cool it down for a few seconds. Something as simple as running it under a cool tap or using a cold compress will suffice - you can also use ice but don't apply it directly to the sunburn.
While the skin is still damp from the water, you can apply a gentle moisturiser to help reduce itching and keep the skin healthy. However, it's best not to use any ointments that contain petroleum or oil (such as Vaseline) as this may actually trap the heat in and worsen symptoms.
If your sunburn begins showing blisters over a large portion of the body, or you experience fever and chills after getting sunburnt, you should seek medical help. It's extremely important not to scratch or pop the blisters as this could increase the likelihood of it becoming infected.
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