When is it necessary to go to the emergency room for sunburn? After being in the sun all day, I have swelling on the tops of my feet and it is hard to walk.

As you probably know, it's unusual for sunburn to be so severe that a visit to the emergency room is needed. However, if it is so severe that you are having extensive blistering or swelling, and find it hard to walk, that might be one of the cases in which it would be helpful to be seen by a professional medical practitioner.

Sunburn is best prevented by avoiding direct sunlight, keeping your skin covered by wearing proctive clothing, and frequent application of sunscreen to those areas that are exposed.

For people with mild to moderate burns (such as what it sounds like you are experiencing), I find have found that a combination of skin moisturizers and oral anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen) often lead to decreased symptoms and quicker recovery in the short run.

Sometimes burns can be severe and lead to blistering. Blisters can become infected when they drain, and so it's important to be careful to watch for that. Rarely, burns can become so severe or cover such a large part of the body that they can make you quite ill. These would be the cases when a visit to the doctor could be helpful.

Summer is coming, so do be careful out there!

Dr. Michael Potter

-- Michael Potter, MD, is an associate professor at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center.

First published March 30, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive