Sunburn

The sun is shining. You lie down, close your eyes, feel the warmth on your skin. It feels good. You stay. You stay a little longer. You stay even longer. And at some point — usually only hours later — your body reports back: burning, red, pulsing, raw. The skin is taut, every touch hurts, at night you cannot find a sleeping position that does not cause pain.

Medically, sunburn is clearly described. UV radiation damages the upper layers of skin, the tissue becomes inflamed, the body responds with redness, swelling, pain. Sunscreen, shade, sensible exposure time — these are the answers every dermatologist gives. And they are correct.