A female asked:
can one bad sunburn cause significant sun damage to the skin there was one time in my life that i had a really bad sunburn. my skin swelled up and i became lightheaded during the evening it was so bad. after a burn like that, i never went back into the
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. G Funarianswered
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 45 years experience
The : The answer is yes, but the probability is low if it was only once and you are staying out of the sun and using a sun block.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Richard Ardenanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 37 years experience
Data : Data does show that even a single blistering sunburn substantially increases the risk of a person's chance of getting melanoma over their lifetime. Melanoma is more of a concern for single or multiple episodes of blistering sunburn, whereas non-melanoma skin cancers seem to be more of a concern with chronic sun exposure. Self-awareness of your skin, periodic skin checks as part of your routine physicals, and proper skin protection are obviously important. A good rule of thumb is to apply the abcde rule for any pigmented lesion of the skin, whose pneumonic is a= asymmetry, b= irregular borders, c= color variegation, d= diameter > 6 mm, e= evolution of the lesion over time. These factors, singly or in aggregate, raise the level of concern ( as would any symptomatic or non-healing skin lesion).
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Oct 3, 2016
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$30 per visit with
membership
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.