Text B. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

 

Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a life-threatening skin disease in which the top layer of the skin peels off in sheets.

A third of the cases are caused by a reaction to a drug, most often penicillin, antibiotics containing sulfa, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or allopurinol. In another third of the cases, toxic epidermal necrolysis appears along with some other serious disease, complicating the diagnosis. In the re­maining third of the cases, no cause can be found. The condition is uncommon in children.

Symptoms

Toxic epidermal necrolysis typically begins with a painful red area that quickly spreads. Blis­ters may develop, or the top layer of skin may simply peel off without blistering. Often, just a gentle touch or pull peels off large sheets of skin. This makes the affected area look as if it's been scalded. (A similar-looking condition, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, results from a staphylococcal infection in infants, young chil­dren, and adults whose immune systems are abnormal.) As toxic epidermal necrolysis pro­gresses, the person usually experiences discom­fort, chills, and fever. Within 3 days, enormous areas of skin may peel off, and the condition often spreads to the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and genitals.

As with severe burns, the skin loss is life threat­ening. Huge amounts of fluids and salts can seep from the large, raw, damaged areas. A person who has this condition is very susceptible to шnfection at the sites of damaged, exposed tissues; such infections are the most common cause of death in those with this condition.

Treatment

People with toxic epidermal necrolysis are hos­pitalized and immediately taken off drugs sus­pected of causing the condition. When possible, these people are treated in the burn unit and given scrupulous care to avoid infection. Hospital per­sonnel wash their hands before touching the patient, keep the patient isolated from other hos­pital patients, and cover the patient's skin with protective bandages. Fluids and salts, which are lost through the damaged skin, are replaced in­travenously. Using corticosteroids to treat the condition is controversial: some doctors believe that giving large doses within the first few days is beneficial; others believe that corticosteroids should not be used. These drugs suppress the immune system, which increases the potential for serious infection. If an infection develops, doctors give antibiotics immediately.

Notes:

peel off снимать, сходить, слезать, облезать

scalded skin syndrome синдром ошпаренной кожи

scal обваривать(ся), ошпаривать(ся), обжигать(ся)

seep просачиваться; проникать, протекать

 

Text C. Erythema Multiforme

Erythema multiforme is a disorder characterized by patches of red, raised skin that often look like targets and usually are distributed symmetrically over the body.

Probably more than half the cases are caused by herpes simplex. This viral infection may be obvious before the erythema multiforme ap­pears. In the rest of the cases, possible causes include virtually any drug (most often penicillins, antibiotics containing sulfa, and barbiturates) and other infectious diseases (for example, coxsackievirus or echovirus infection, mycoplasmal pneumonia, psittacosis, and histoplasmosis). Rarely, certain vaccines cause erythema multiforme. Doctors are unsure how herpes simplex and certain drugs cause this condition, but a type of allergic reaction is suspected.

Symptoms

Usually, erythema multiforme appears sud­denly, with reddened patches and blisters erupt­ing most often on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet and on the face. Blisters on the lips and on the lining of the mouth can ooze blood. Erythema multiforme produces flat, round, red marks distributed equally on both sides of the body; these red areas may develop dark concen­tric rings with purple-gray centers (target or iris lesions). The reddened areas sometimes itch. A person with erythema multiforme may have cold sores (or have had them before), feel tired, and have pain in the joints and a fever. Attacks of er­ythema multiforme may last 2 to 4 weeks and may recur in the fall and spring for several years.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome - in which blisters break out on the lining of the mouth, throat, anus, genital region, and eyes—is a very severe form of erythema multiforme. Reddened areas may de­velop on the rest of the skin. The damage to the lining of the mouth makes eating difficult, and closing the mouth may be painful, so the person may drool. The eyes may become very painful, swell, and become so filled with pus that they seal shut. The corneas can become scarred. The opening through which urine passes may also be affected, making urination difficult and painful.

Treatment

Erythema multiforme usually heals on its own, but Stevens-Johnson syndrome can be fatal. Doctors try to treat any infectious cause or eliminate any drugs that are suspected causes. When the cause of erythema multiforme is thought to be herpes simplex, oral acyclovir is usually given.

Blisters or sores on the skin usually are covered with tap water compresses. Oral corticosteroids may be used in severe or persistent, recurring cases, but their use is controversial.

At the slightest indication of infection, antibiotics are prescribed. When erythema multiforme makes eating or drinking impossible, nutrition and fluids are given intravenously.

Notes:

erythema multiforme экссудативная многоформная эритема

Coxsackieviris вирус Коксаки

drool говорить бессвязно, затрудненно

tap откачивать жидкость путем пункции

 

Sweating Disorders

 

Sweat is made by sweat glands in the skin and carried to the skin’s surface by ducts. Sweating helps keep the body cool. Thus, people sweat more when it’s warm. They also sweat when they are nervous or under stress.

Sweat is mostly water, but it also contains salt (sodium chloride) and other chemicals. When a person sweats a lot, the lost salt and water must be replaced.

Prickly Heat is an itchy skin rash caused by trapped sweat.

When the narrow ducts carrying sweat to the skin surface get clogged, the trapped sweat causes inflammation, which produces irritation (prickling) and itching. Prickly heat usually consists of a rash of very tiny blisters but also can appear as large, reddened areas of skin.

Prickly heat is most common in warm, humid climates, but people who wear too much clothing in cold weather also can develop the condition. The most common areas for prickly heat are the trunk and thighs.

Reducing sweating usually controls the problem. Keeping the skin cool and dry and avoiding conditions that increase sweating are important; air conditioning is ideal. Often, lotions are used that contain corticosteroids, sometimes with a bit of menthol added; however, these topical treatments are not as effective as modifying the environment and dressing appropriately.

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) may affect the entire surface of the skin, but often it's limited to the palms, soles, armpits, or groin. The affected area is often pink or bluish white, and in severe cases the skin may be cracked, scaly, and soft, especially on the feet. Sometimes the affected area gives off a foul odor (bromhidrosis), which is caused by bacteria and yeasts that break down the sweat and the wet skin.

Clammy hands and feet are a normal response to anxiety, and heavy sweating is normal when a person has a fever. However, frequent heavy sweating all over the body warrants medical at­tention because it can be a sign of an overactive thyroid, a low blood sugar level, or an abnormality in the part of the nervous system that controls sweating. Blood tests can determine if thyroid function or blood sugar is abnormal.

Treatment

Heavy sweating of the palms, soles, or armpits can be controlled to some degree with a nighttime application of aluminum chloride solution. A person first dries the sweaty area, then covers it with the solution, and then covers it with a thin plastic film. In the morning, the person removes the film and washes the area. Some people need two ap­plications daily; this regimen usually gives relief in a week. If the solution irritates the skin, the plastic film should be left off.

A solution of methenamine also may help con­trol heavy sweating. Tap water iontophoresis, a process in which a weak electric current is ap­plied to the sweaty area, is sometimes used. If medications aren't effective, a more drastic mea­sure for severe sweating is surgical removal of the sweat glands in the armpits. Psychologic counseling or antianxiety medication may relieve sweating caused by anxiety.

To control odor, a person needs to keep the affected area scrupulously clean; doing so elimi­nates the microbes that cause odor. A daily bath with a liquid soap containing chlorhexidine or another antiseptic and an application of an alu­minum chlorhydroxy preparation (found in most commercial antiperspirants) are effective in stop­ping odor; shaving the hair in the armpits helps some people. Some people may need to use antibacterial creams or lotions that include antibiotics (such as clindamycin or erythromycin) to eliminate the odor.

 

Notes:

sweat (glands) пот, испарина; потовые (железы)

armpit подмышечная впадина

clammy hands and feets холодные и влажные на ощупь руки и ноги

 

Sebaceous Gland Disorders

 

The sebaceous glands, which secrete oil onto the skin, lie in the dermis, the skin layer just below the surface layer (epidermis). Sebaceous gland disorders include acne, rosacea, perioral derma­titis, and sebaceous cysts.

Text A. Acne

Acne is a common skin condition in which the skin pores become clogged, leading to pimples and inflamed, infected abscesses (collections of pus).

Acne tends to develop in teenagers because of an interaction among hormones, skin oils, and bacteria that live on and in the skin and in the hair. During puberty, the sebaceous glands in the skin become more active and produce excessive oil (sebum). Often, dried sebum, flaked skin, and bacteria collect in skin pores, forming a comedo, which blocks sebum from flowing from the hair follicles up through the pores. If the blockage is incomplete, a black head appears; if the blockage is complete, a white head appears. Bacteria grow in the plugged pores and break down some of the fats in the sebum, further irritating the skin. The irritated blackheads and whiteheads produce the skin eruptions that are commonly known as acne pimples. If the infection and irritation in the pim­ple get worse, an abscess may form.

When a person has comedones, pimples, and pustules (pus-filled blisters) without abscesses, the condition is called superficial acne; when in­flamed pimples project down into the underlying skin and pus-filled cysts appear that may rupture and develop into larger abscesses, the condition is called deep acne.

Symptoms

Acne is often worse in the winter and better in the summer, probably because of the beneficial effects of the sun. Diet has little or no effect on acne, though some people think they’re sensitive to certain foods. Eliminating these foods for several weeks and then adding them back into the diet may help determine if the foods really affect the acne. Acne may also appear with each menstrual period in young women and may clear up or substantially worsen during pregnancy. Teenagers who use anabolic steroids are likely to make their acne worse. Certain cosmetics may aggravate acne by clogging the pores.

In deep acne, the infection can spread, producing larger red, raised inflamed areas, pus-filled cysts, and abscesses – all of which may rupture and leave scars. Superficial acne usually doesn’t leave scars. Squeezing pimples or trying to open them in other ways can make superficial acne worse by increasing infection, inflammation, and scarring.

Treatment

Washing affected areas several times a day has little effect except to improve the appearance of an oily face. Any good soap may be used. Antibacterial soaps provide no added benefit and abrasive soaps may enhance drying but may also irritate the skin. Hot water compresses soften comedones, making them easier to remove. A doctor can show either the person with acne or a family member how to remove comedones carefully once or twice a week, preferably with a sterile needle or a Schamberg loop extractor. A pimple should be opened with a sterile needle only after a pustule has formed. Other treatments depend on the severity of the acne.

Notes:

clog засорять что-либо

interaction взаимодействие (among, between; with)

comedo угорь

plug затыкать, закупоривать

eruption сыпь, высыпания на коже

leave a scar оставлять шрам

squeezing выжимание, выдавливание

 

Text B. Rosacea

Rosacea is a persistent skin disorder that produces redness, tiny pimples, and broken blood vessels, usually on the central area of the face.

The skin may thicken, particularly around the nose, making it look red and bulbous, a condition called rhinophyma. Occasionally, rosacea appears on the torso, arms, and legs rather than on the face.

The cause of rosacea isn’t known. The condition usually appears during or after middle age and is most common in people with fair complexions. Some alcoholics develop rosacea, particularly rhinophyma. Corticosteroids applied to the skin tend to make rosacea worse. Although usually easy for doctors to recognize, rosacea sometimes looks like acne and certain other skin disorders.

Treatment

People with rosacea should avoid foods that cause the blood vessels in the skin to dilate – for example, spicy food, alcohol, coffee, and sodas containing caffeine. Certain antibiotics taken by mouth improve rosacea; tetracyclines are usually most effective and produce the fewest side effects. Antibiotics that are applied to the skin, such as metronidazole gel, are also effective. Severe rhinophyma is unlikely to improve with antibiotic therapy; a person with this condition may need surgery.

Notes:

tiny крошечный

pimple пустула, папула

fair complexion светлый цвет лица

Hair Disorders

 

The hair originates in the dermis, the skin layer just below the surface layer (epidermis). Hair disorders include excessive hairiness, baldness, and ingrown beard hairs.

Text A. Excessive Hairiness

 

Both men and women may develop excessive hair (hirsutism) on parts of the skin that usually aren't very hairy. The trait often runs in families, particularly among people of Mediterranean de­scent. In women and children, excessive hairiness may result from a disorder of the pituitary or ad­renal glands that causes overproduction of mas­culinizing (virilizing) steroids. Excessive hairi­ness is common after menopause and in people who use anabolic steroids or corticosteroids. The condition may also develop in people using cer­tain other medications, such as the blood pres­sure drug minoxidil. People with porphyria cutanea tarda also may have excessive hair.

Treatment

A doctor first determines the cause of the ex­cessive hair growth. Often, laboratory tests aren't needed, but if an endocrine disorder is suspected, blood tests may be ordered.

As a temporary solution, the hair can be shaved. Other common temporary measures in­clude plucking, waxing, and using depilatories. A hair bleach may mask the condition if the person has fine hair.

The hair follicles must be destroyed to perma­nently remove hair. The only safe permanent treatment is electrolysis.

Notes:

hairiness волосатость

orphyria cutanea tarda хроническая гематопорфирия

plucking выщипывание

waxing эпиляция воском

bleach обесцвечивание

Text B. Baldness

 

Baldness (alopecia) is much more common in men than in women. It can result from genetic factors, aging, local skin conditions, and diseases that affect the body generally (systemic diseases). Some medications, such as those used to treat cancer, also cause hair loss.

Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss affecting men. It's rare in women and children because it depends on the presence of the male hormones (androgens) and levels of these hormones are high in males after puberty. Baldness runs in families. The hair loss usually begins on the sides, near the front, or on the top of the head toward the back. The hair loss can begin at any age, even in the middle teen years. Some people lose only some hair and develop a bald spot in the back or a receding hairline; oth­ers, especially people whose hair loss begins at a young age, may go completely bald.

Female-pattern baldness is less common than male-pattern baldness. Usually, this condition causes the hair to thin in the front, on the sides, or on the crown. It rarely progresses to total hair loss.

Toxic baldness (toxic alopecia) may follow a se­vere illness with a high fever. In excessive doses, some drugs especially thallium, vitamin A, and retinoids - can cause baldness. Many cancer drugs cause baldness. It may also result from an underactive thyroid gland or pituitary gland or even from pregnancy. The hair may fall out as long as 3 or 4 months after the illness or other condi­tion. Usually, the hair loss is temporary, and the hair grows back.

Alopecia areata is a condition in which hair is lost suddenly in a particular area, usually in the scalp or beard. Rarely, all body hair may be lost, a condition called alopecia universalis. The hair usually grows back in several months, except in people with widespread hair loss, for whom re-growth is unlikely.

Hair pulling (trichotillomania) is most common in children, but the habit may persist throughout life. The habit may not be noticed for a long time, making doctors and parents think that an illness such as alopecia areata is causing the hair loss. A biopsy (removal of a skin specimen and exami­nation under a microscope) sometimes helps a doctor pin down the diagnosis.

Scarring alopecia is hair loss that occurs at scarred areas. The skin may be scarred from burns, severe injury, or X-ray therapy. Less obvi­ous causes of scarring include lupus erythematosus, lichen planus, persistent bacterial or fungal infections, sacroidosis, and tuberculosis. Skin cancers also may scar the skin.

Diagnosis and treatment

Determining the type of baldness simply by observation is sometimes difficult, so a doctor may need a biopsy to make diagnosis. A biopsy helps determine if the hair follicles are normal; if they are not, the biopsy may indicate possible causes.

Most types of baldness have no cure. A person with male-pattern or female-pattern baldness may undergo hair transplantation, in which hair follicles are removed from one part of the body and transplanted. Some medications, such as minoxidil, may promote hair growth in a small percentage of people.

Corticosteroids injected under the skin may help people with alopecia areata, but the results may not last. Another treatment for alopecia areata involves inducing a mild allergic reaction or irritation to promote hair growth. Scarring alopecia is particularly difficult to treat. When possible, the cause of the scarring is treated, but after an area of skin has fully scarred, hair growth is unlikely.

Notes:

baldness недостаточное оволосение головы, алопеция, облысение

alopecia areata гнёздная алопеция, очаговая алопеция

 

Fungal Skin Infections

Text A. Dermatophytes

Fungi that infect the skin (dermatophytes) live only in the dead, topmost layer (stratum corneum) and don’t penetrate deeper. Some fungal infections cause no symptoms or produce only a small amount of irritation, scaling and redness. Other fungal infections cause itching, swelling, blisters and severe scaling.

Fungi usually make their homes in moist areas of the body where skin surface meet: between the toes, in the groin, and under the breasts. Obese people are more likely to get these infections because they have excessive skinfolds.

Strangely, fungal infections on one part of the body can cause rashes on other parts of the body that aren’t infected. For example, a fungal infection on the foot may cause an itchy, bumpy rash on the fingers. These eruption represent allergic reactions to the fungus.

Doctors may suspect fungi when they see a red, irritated rash in one of the commonly affected areas. A doctor can usually confirm the diagnosis by scraping off a small amount of skin and having it examined under a microscope or placed in a culture medium that will grow the fungi so they can be identified.

Notes:

stratum слой

corium дерма

skinfold кожная складка

bumpy бугристый

 

Text B. Candidiasis

Candidiasis (yeast infection, moniliasis) is an infection by the yeast Candida, formerly called Monilia.

Candida usually infects the skin and mucous membranes, such as the lining of the mouth and vagina. Rarely, it invades deeper tissues as well as the blood, causing life-threatening systemic candidiasis. This more serious infection is most common in people with poor immunity – for example, people with AIDS or those receiving chemotherapy.

Candida is a normal resident of the digestive tract and vagina that usually causes no harm. When environmental conditions are particularly favorable (for example, in warm, humid weather) or when a person’s immune defenses are impaired, the yeast can infect the skin. Like dermatophytes, Candida grows well in warm, moist conditions. Sometimes people taking antibiotics get Candida infections because the antibiotics kill the bacteria that normally reside in the tissues, allowing the Candida to grow unchecked. Corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy after organ transplantation can also lower the body's de­fenses against yeast infections. Pregnant women, obese people, and people with diabetes also are more likely to be infected by Candida.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, depending on the location of the infection.

Infections in skin folds (intertriginous infections) or in the navel usually cause a red rash, often with patchy areas that ooze small amounts of whitish fluid. Small pustules may appear, especially at the edges of the rash, and the rash may itch or burn. A Candidarash around the anus may be raw, white or red, and itchy.

Vaginal Candida infections (vulvovaginitis) are common especially in women who are pregnant, have diabetes, or are taking antibiotics. Symp­toms of these infections include a white or yellow discharge from the vagina and burning, itching and redness along the walls and external area of the vagina.

Penile Candida infections most often affect men with diabetes or men whose female sex partners have vaginal Candidainfections. Usually the infection produces a red, scaling, sometimes painful rash on the underside of the penis. However, an infection of the penis or vagina may not cause any symptoms.

Thrush is a Candida infection inside the mouth. The creamy white patches typical of thrush cling to the tongue and sides of the mouth and often are painful. The patches can be scraped off easily with a finger or spoon. Thrush in otherwise healthy children isn't unusual, but in adults it may signal impaired immunity, possibly caused by di­abetes or AIDS. The use of antibiotics that kill off competing bacteria increases the chances of get­ting thrush.

Perleche is a Candida infection at the corners of the mouth, creating cracks and tiny cuts. It may stem from ill-fitting dentures that leave the corners of the mouth moist enough so that yeast can grow.

Candidal paronychia, Candida growing in the nail beds, produces painful swelling and pus. Nails infected with Candida may turn white or yellow and separate from the finger or toe.

Diagnosis

Usually, a doctor can identify a Candida infection by observing its distinctive rash or the thick, white, pasty residue it generates. To make a di­agnosis, a doctor may scrape off some of the skin or residue with a scalpel or tongue depressor. Then the sample is examined under a microscope or placed in a culture medium to identify the cause of the infection.

Treatment

Generally, Candida skin infections are easily cured with medicated creams and lotions. Doc­tors often recommend nystatin cream for skin, vaginal, and penile infections; the cream is usually applied twice daily for 7 to 10 days. Yeast medi­cations for the vagina or anus also are available as suppositories. Thrush medications may be taken as a liquid that is swished around the mouth and spit out or as a lozenge that dissolves slowly in the mouth. For skin infections, sometimes corticosteroid ointments, such as hydrocortisone, are used along with antifungal creams because the ointments quickly reduce itching and pain (al­though they don't help cure the infection itself).

Keeping the skin dry helps clear up the infec­tion and prevents the fungus from returning. Plain talcum powder or powder that contains nystatin can help keep the surface area dry.

Notes:

invade поражать

penile относящийся к мужскому половому члену

thrush молочница; афтозный стоматит

cling to прилегать, касаться

perleche заеда

stem происходить, возникать (from, out of)

ill-fitting неподходящий

 

Text C. Tinea Versicolor

 

Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that causes white to light brown patches on the skin.

The infection is quite common, especially in young adults. It rarely causes pain or itching, but it prevents areas of the skin from tanning, pro­ducing patches. People with naturally dark skin may notice pale patches; people with naturally fair skin may get dark patches. The patches are often on the chest or back and may scale slightly. Over time, small areas can join to form large patches.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors diagnose tinea versicolor by its ap­pearance. A doctor may use an ultraviolet light to show the infection more clearly or may examine scrapings from the infected area under a micro­scope. Dandruff shampoos, such as 1 percent selenium sulfide, usually cure tinea versicolor. These shampoos are applied full-strength to the affected areas (including the scalp) at bedtime, left on overnight, and washed off in the morning.

Treatment is usually continued for 3 or 4 nights. People who develop skin irritations from this treatment may have to limit the time the shampoo is in contact with their skin to 20 to 60 minutes, or they may need to turn to prescription medications.

The skin may not regain its normal pigmentation for many months after the infection is gone. The condition commonly comes back after successful treatment because the fungus that causes it normally lives on the skin. When the condition does come back, treatment must be repeated.

Notes:

yeast дрожжевой

humid, moist влажный, сырой

impair ослаблять, уменьшать; причинять вред

Sunlight and Skin Damage

 

The skin shields the rest of the body from the sun’s rays – a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can damage cells. Brief overexposure causes sunburn. With long-term exposure to sunlight, the skin’s uppermost layer – epidermis – thickens, and pigment-producing skin cells – melanocytes – increase the production of pigment – melanin, which gives the skin its color. Melanin, a naturally protective substance, absorbs the energy of UV rays and prevents the rays from penetrating deeper into the tissues.

Sensitivity to sunlight varies according to race, previous exposure, and complexion, but everyone is vulnerable to some extent. Because dark-skinned people resistance to the sun’s harmful effects, which include sunburn, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. Albinos have no melanin in their skin, can’t tan at all, and burn severily with even a little sun exposure. Unless albinos protect themselves from the sun, they develop skin cancers at an early age. People with vitiligo have patches of skin that don’t produce melanin and thus may become severely sunburned.

Text A. Sunburn

Sunburn results from an overexposure to UVB rays. Depending on the type of skin pigment a person has and the amount of sun exposure, the skin becomes red, swollen, and painful one hour to one day after exposure. Later, blisters may form, and the skin may peel. Some sunburned people develop a fever, chills, and weakness, and those with very bad sunburns even may go into shock – low blood pressure, fainting, and profound weakness.

Prevention

The best – and most obvious – way to prevent sun damage is to stay out of strong, direct sunlight. Clothing and ordinary window glass filters out virtually all damaging rays. Water is not a good UV filter: UVA and UVB rays can penetrate a foot of clear water, as snorkelers and barefoot waders may discover. Neither clouds nor fog is a good UV filter either; a person can get sunburned on a cloudy or foggy day. Snow, water, and sand reflect sunlight, magnifying the amount of UV light that reaches the skin.

Before exposure to strong, direct sunlight, a person should apply a sunscreen, an ointment or cream containing chemicals that protect the skin by filtering out UVA and UVB rays. Many sun­screens are either waterproof or water resistant. One common, effective type of sunscreen contains para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). Because it takes 30 to 45 minutes to bind strongly to the skin, swimming or sweating soon after applying PABA will wash it off. Occasionally, sunscreens containing PABA irritate the skin, and they can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Another type of sunscreen contains a chemical called benzophenone. Many sunscreens contain both PABA and benzophenone or other chemicals; these combinations provide protection from a broader range of UV rays. Other sunscreens contain physical barriers such as zinc oxide or tita­nium dioxide; these thick, white ointments block sunlight from the skin and can be used on small, sensitive areas, such as the nose and lips. People who are concerned with appearance can tint these ointments with cosmetics to match their skin color.

In the United States, sunscreens are rated by their sun protection factor (SPF) number - the higher the SPF number, the greater the protection. Sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or more block most UV rays, but no see-through sunscreen blocks all UV rays. Most sunscreens tend to block only UVB rays, but UVA rays also can cause skin damage. Some newer sunscreens are somewhat effective at blocking UVA rays.

Treatment

The first tingling or redness is a signal to get out of the sun quickly. Cold tap water compresses can soothe raw, hot areas, as can lotions or oint­ments without anesthetics or perfumes that might irritate or sensitize the skin. Corticosteroid tablets can help relieve the inflammation and pain within hours.

Sunburned skin begins healing by itself within several days, but complete healing may take weeks. Sunburned lower legs, particularly sunburned shins, tend to be particularly uncomfortable and slow to heal. Skin surfaces rarely exposed to the sun can get badly sunburned because they contain little pigment. Such areas include the skin normally covered by a bathing suit, the tops of the feet, and the wrist normally protected by a watch.

Sun-damaged skin makes a poor barrier against infection, and if an infection develops, healing may be delayed. A doctor can determine the se­verity of an infection and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.

After burned skin peels, the newly exposed layers are thin and initially very sensitive to sunlight. These areas may remain extremely sensitive for several weeks.

Notes:

peel шелушиться, лупиться, сходить

tingling пощипывание, покалывание

tap water compress компресс водопроводной водой

soothe успокаивать, утешать

shin голень