Can You Feel Yourself Getting A Sunburn?

Suns out buns out, right? We'll only if you're feeling a little daring. But it is true. When the sun is blazing, we're battling the heat by ordering venti iced refreshments and wearing as little as possible. Though all this extra UV exposure our skin is getting during the warmer days can result in a sometimes surprising, yet always unwelcome, sunburn.

"Sunburn is an inflammatory reaction of the skin's outer layers by UV rays," explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, via Byrdie. "The sun produces ultraviolet radiation that reaches the skin and damages skin cells. This happens because the radiation causes changes in the DNA in skin cells, which results in the redness of a sunburn," she explains.

Not only does a sunburn cause long-term damage to our skin. But those who have experienced the burning and tender feeling of skin that has been burnt by the sun know that it can really put a damper on your mood. Sunscreen is the obvious best defense against a nasty, day-destroying sunburn. Johns Hopkins Medicine claims that it is the easiest and best way to protect your skin's appearance and health. But what happens if we're ever caught in the rays without protection? Is it possible to feel yourself getting a sunburn?

"Sometimes you can feel yourself getting too much UV exposure," explains dermatologist Anthony Rossi to Dollar Shave Club. "But by the time you feel the sunburn, it's usually too late, because the damage has already been done. The reason why there's a delay is because the UV-induced burn releases inflammatory cells and mediators, which signal pain that occurs later."

So you can feel your skin being burnt, but know that it likely means you're already well on the road to sunburn city. Better Health shares that depending on the severity of the UV rays, a sunburn can happen within 11 minutes. And if you do notice you have gotten a sunburn after coming in from an afternoon by the pool, unfortunately the symptoms of your burn may develop and increase in severity for as long as 72 hours post-UV exposure.

Sunburns may be common. But that doesn't mean they should be taken lightly. The health and appearance of our skin is too important. So don't wait until you feel the light burning sensation that tends to happen at the beginning of a sunburn. Apply some sunscreen or find an umbrella! It'll save both your skin and your good mood.