Sunburn symptoms are universally referred to as an inflammation of the skin which resulted in overexposure to the sun. People with fair complexion are at higher risk of receiving sunburn. But people with darker complexion shouldn't let their guard down either. When our skin is exposed to the sun for a long period of time, the ultraviolet rays start affecting its top level and damage the outer layer of skin cells. The process also damages the blood vessels under the skin layer and they start getting wider and give out fluid.

At this stage cells cease producing protein and in the end their DNA receives considerable damage from the vicious ultraviolet rays. If the DNA undergoes such an undesirable procedure over and over again, the risk of skin cancer grows to unspeakable proportions, but this falls into the severe reactions category. On burning the skin, your body's immune mechanisms evaluate the damaged skin area as something of an alien nature and simultaneously the ultra-violate rays alter the substance on the skin, which prevents your immune mechanisms from going at your own patches of skin.

At the same time it lets any ill-natured cells grow unrestricted. Resulting sunburn symptoms include the reddening and blistering of the skin, and the peeling off of the burnt skin in a few days' time. The sunburn symptoms mentioned above are sometimes accompanied by sunstroke, which includes vomiting, loss of conscience or balance and of course fever.

If you get painful blisters and discomfort during your seemingly happy stay on a beach resort, you know it's one of the sunburn symptoms right away. You can identify the sunburn symptoms by honestly examining your body for reddening and recalling how much time you have spent in the sun and specifically what time of the day you spent on the beach. It is better to hit the sand early in the morning and then pack up by eleven or even ten o'clock and go for some siesta-type pastime in a well-conditioned room until after four in the afternoon, when the negative effects of the ultraviolet rays reduce their merciless effects.

So, if there are sunburn symptoms visible, go for an aspirin, which will reduce the pain and inflammation to the minimum. Also apply some cooling sunburn-remedy lotions containing Aloe Vera or calendula and give yourself a cool water compress. People whose skin has severe sunburn symptoms like painful blisters or extreme reddening are encouraged to consult a doctor and ask for a corticosteroid cream prescription to speed-up the heeling process.

A sunburn of moderate severity will pretty much be healed in seven to nine days. But learn from your mistakes and avoid overexposure to sun at all costs. There are severe reactions to fear - an increased risk of skin cancer is out there ready to strike. If you notice painful blisters and experience severe reactions, then consult a doctor.

Even one hard burn in the childhood might result in higher risk of melanoma skin cancer hanging over your head for years to come. Ensure your sun safety by wearing sunscreen at all times, keeping yourself hydrated and resorting to the shade whenever common sense requires it. And watching out for sunburn symptoms, too!