What's the deal with a sunburn?

Question

okay, i know you get a sunburn for staying outside to long, or not putting on sunscreen, and there's a chance you'll get skin cancer because of it, but WHY do we get it?? does your skin react to too much sun? or something else?

Answer 1

The sun emits radiation that is harmful to the skin; the skin starts to break down, and the waste products start to build up. The blood vessels in the skin open wider to allow more blood to come to the area to remove the waste, and to bring nutrients to rebuild the damaged area, so you get the red flush that you associate with sunburn, and the warm-to-the-touch skin as well. That's one reason that drinking water helps; it gives the blood a greater capacity to carry away the "bad stuff" and get the rebuilding done faster.

Answer 2

Your skin either burns or gets tan in the sun because it is your skin's natural defense against the sun. It is trying to protect itself. The darker it turns, the more defense it has against the sun. A burn happens when you've had too much sun and your skin cannot keep up and protect itself from all of the harmful UV rays.

Answer 3

A sunburn is your skin's reaction to the harmful UV rays from the sun. It is actually a UV burn.

Answer 4

I can't answer your question, but I want you to please answer this question:

Do you think this girl is pretty?!?
In General - Beauty & Style - Asked by Sarah<3 - 18 answers - 3 hours ago - Open

It's about the pitiful girl above me. Please don't think I'm mean- but if you go on her profile, you'll find she's given similar responses to other people too (being especially nasty to those girls who are in need of advice or encouragement). I have no doubt she pissed you off too with her dumb response- I hate people like her.