Sunburn (suntan) & insect bites and stings

Sunburn Bites and Stings

Causes Any time our skin is not protected by sunscreen or Although an insect bite and an insect sting
clothes and gets too much sun, it can burn or tan. are both
Melanin painful, there is a big difference between
▪A complex polymer derived from the amino acid the types of
tyrosine. insects that bite and those that sting
▪Melanin is responsible for determining skin and
hair colour and is present in the skin to varying Common
degrees; depending on how much a population has type of
been exposed to the sun historically. insects
▪Basically, people who have dark skin have more that bites Business
melanin. People who have light skin have less. Finance
Leader Economy
Melanin related to mutation (resulting in various Risk
skin colour link to melanin level) Profit
Depending on the amount of UV radiation received, Rise
population group gained different skin colour in Idea
different part of world. 1. Mosquito
2. Fly
 How melanin relates to the skin burn or tan: 3. Flea
 Our body normally makes melanin to try to 4. Chigger
protect the deeper layers of our skin from 5. Tick
damage. 6. Spider
 When our skin gets damaged by the sun's rays, it 7. Fire ant
makes even more melanin to try to protect our 8. Scabies mite
skin from being damaged even more. That 9. Bed bugs
causes the skin to change colour when we go in 10. Lice
the sun:
 Dark-skinned people usually turn darker brown,
or tan.
 Light-skinned people usually turn more red, or
burn.
 Besides tanning or burning, a lot of people also
get uneven patches of colour, or freckles.
NOTE: Even if we have naturally dark skin or never
burn and always tan, that still means the sun is
damaging our skin. And we can still get skin cancer
and wrinkles some day.
sun gives off three wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV)
light:
▪ UVA
▪ UVB
(Both can penetrate our skin and cause damage)
▪ UVC (light does not reach the Earth's surface)
 UV rays can alter our DNA, prematurely aging our
skin.
▪Over time, DNA damage can contribute to skin
cancers, including deadly melanoma.
symptoms CLASSIFICATION: Common symptoms of
Mild, moderate, or severe depending on several reactions to bites and
factors: stings
▪The skin complexion of an individual (fair-skinned 1. Swelling, which may be concentrated
complexion has the highest risk of burning). in the affected area or may spread
▪The time of day, duration, and altitude of exposure throughout the body redness or rash
to the sun 2. Pain in the affected area or in the
▪Certain medications or chemicals in some skin muscles.
preparations can make an individual more 3. Itching.
susceptible to sunburn if proper precautions are not 4. Heat on and around the site of the bite
taken. or sting.
5. Numbness or tingling in the affected
Mild: The first signs of sunburn may not appear for area.
up to 4 hours after exposure and may peak between
12 and 24 hours following exposure. Symptoms of a severe reaction
Mild to moderate sunburn typically presents with requiring immediate medical
symptoms that can include red erythematous skin, treatment include:
tenderness, pain, and peeling of skin. • High fever
Severe reactions can occur as well and can cause the • Difficulty breathing
development of blisters and sometimes fever, chills, • Nausea or vomiting
and weakness. In these instances, the individual • Muscle spasms
should always be referred to a physician for further • Rapid heartbeat
evaluation. • Swelling of the lips and throat
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness

symptoms CLASSIFICATION: Common symptoms of

Mild, moderate, or severe depending on several
factors:
▪The skin complexion of an individual (fair-skinned
complexion has the highest risk of burning).
▪The time of day, duration, and altitude of exposure
to the sun
▪Certain medications or chemicals in some skin
preparations can make an individual more
susceptible to sunburn if proper precautions are not
taken.
Mild: The first signs of sunburn may not appear for
up to 4 hours after exposure and may peak between
12 and 24 hours following exposure.
Mild to moderate sunburn typically presents with
reactions to bites and
stings
6. Swelling, which may be concentrated
in the affected area or may spread
throughout the body redness or rash
7. Pain in the affected area or in the
muscles.
8. Itching.
9. Heat on and around the site of the bite
or sting.
10. Numbness or tingling in the affected
area.
Symptoms of a severe reaction
requiring immediate medical
 symptoms that can include red erythematous skin,
tenderness, pain, and peeling of skin.
Severe reactions can occur as well and can cause the
development of blisters and sometimes fever, chills,
and weakness. In these instances, the individual
should always be referred to a physician for further
evaluation.
NON-  Preventing sunburn /suntan:
PRESCRI 1. Tips (Watch the clock and Wear the right
PTION clothes such as sun-protective cloth)
MEDICA 2. Protective agents to keep the skin while outside
TIONS in the sun (sunscreen that protects against both
(OTC) UVA and UVB rays.
Sunscreen should have a sun protection factor
(SPF) of at least 30
And
Applying sunscreen:
 Apply sunscreen about 30 minutes
TREATM before going outside.
ENT  Use sunscreen even on overcast days
because UV rays can penetrate clouds.
 Reapply sunscreen every two hours --
or more often if sweating heavily or
swimming.
 Sunburn/suntan
relief:
 To treat the burn on two fronts  relieving
reddened, inflamed skin while easing pain.
 OTC sunscreen:
1. Products typically include a
combination of two to six of these
active ingredients: oxybenzone,
avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene,
homosalate and octinoxate.
2. Mineral sunscreens use zinc oxide
and/or titanium dioxide.
treatment include:
• High fever
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle spasms
• Rapid heartbeat
• Swelling of the lips and throat
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
Before getting bite or sting
1. Insect repellent
Not designed to eliminate pests makes
people less attractive to the pest.
Common active ingredients in registered
skin-applied insect repellents:
 Catnip Oil – from plant Nepeta Cataria
sp.
 Citronella Oil - from the leaves and
stems of different species of
Cymbopogon (lemongrass)
 DEET - Chemical name: N,N-diethyl-
meta toluamide
 Picaridin - a synthetic compound first
made in the 1980s. It was made to
resemble the natural compound
piperine, which is found in the group of
plants that are used to produce black
pepper
After getting bite or sting
2. The majority of bites and stings can be
treated at home, especially if the
reaction is mild.
 Remove the stinger if it is lodged
in the skin
 Then, wash the affected area
 Next, apply an ice pack to reduce
pain and swelling.
3. In addition to these, may treat the
patients with:
 Topical anti-itch agents
TREATMENT
Minor to moderate sunburn - initially treated with
the use of cool
cloths or compresses to affected areas; taking cool
showers or baths;
For treatments:
(1) Applying topical agents - aloe vera, various skin
protectants, or topical hydrocortisone to the affected
areas. *Topical hydrocortisone should never be
applied to an area of open blisters.
(2) Oral OTC analgesics may be appropriate for
some individuals.
(3) Systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS) has been shown to decrease
inflammation caused by exposure to UV rays.
TOPICAL AGENTS:
• Apply soothing lotions that contain aloe vera to
sunburned areas.
• Topical steroids (such as 1% hydrocortisone
cream) can help with sunburn pain and swelling.
Not recommended for children below 2 years old,
unless prescribed by doctors.
NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
To help treat fever or pain in sunburn;
• Paracetamol / Acetaminophen
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs):
Ibuprofen tablet
Naproxen tablet
Diclofenac Tablet
• Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
drug)
Commonly used products contain:
•1% hydrocortisone – for pruritis
•Mint oil - counterirritant
•Menthol - counterirritant
•Camphor – counterirritant
Counterirritant is a substance which creates
irritation or mild inflammation in one
location with the goal of lessening
discomfort and/or inflammation.
 Oral pain relievers – NSAIDs
(Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac)
and OTC analgesics (Paracetamol /
acetaminophen)
 Anti-histamines – to reduce
itchiness systemically.
Antihistamine use to treat various
symptoms caused by histamine.
• Long-acting antihistamines provide
symptom
relief for up to 8-12 hours, while shorter
acting agents last for up to 4 hours but
begin
working faster
Oral Antihistamines
1st generation antihistamines:
 H1-antagonists / H1-blockers block the
action of histamine at the H1-receptor,
helping relieve allergic reactions.
 Cause drowsiness in most people
(penetrate BBB)
 eg:
 Chlorpheniramine
 Diphenhydramine
 Brompheniramine
 Carbinoxamine
 Dexchlorpheniramine
 Doxylamine
 2nd generation antihistamines:
 H1-antagonists / H1-blockers
 Newer drugs - much more selective
for peripheral H1-receptors as
opposed to the central nervous
system H1 receptors and cholinergic
receptors. This selectivity
significantly reduces the occurrence
of adverse drug reactions, such as
sedation (calmness)  do not
penetrate BBB
 Less likely to cause drowsiness
 eg:
 Ketotifen
 Terfenadine
 Cetirizine
 Loratadine
Goal of 1. Adequate pain relief
treatment 2. Healing
3. Overall skin protection to minimize skin
irritation and prevent further complications such
as infections.
4. Selection of treatment depends on the severity
of the sunburn.