Windburn

Windburn

Windburn is a skin condition where wind removes the top layer of oil from the skin. Although colloqially named 'windburn', the condition is caused through the lack of oil causing excessive dryness of the skin, leading to redness and a soreness as well as an itchy feeling in some cases. Redness and soreness are also common symptoms of a sunburn, so the two conditions are often mistaken for each other.

Pure windburn is usually not protected against by sunscreen effectively, since wind exposure will chap the skin even without the sun exposure. However, the moisturization agent in sunscreens does help windburns, and windburn does not seem to have the long term damage effect of the sun.

Common cause

On cold days, people will often confuse their sunburn as a windburn. Windburn is actually a made up condition whereby the top layer of oil is removed from the skin, causing excessive dryness that leads to redness and a burning feeling due to the exposure to UV rays. Whilst windburn may harm the skin, it does not create any health harms or problems.

People commonly believe that any burn that happens on a cold day is windburn, but this is not the case. Sunburns are caused as a result of ultraviolet light, not by the temperature, hence it doesn't matter whether high temperatures are present or not. The condition is commonly associated with skiing, where one can experience both windburn and sunburn very easily. This is because strong winds are frequent at higher altitudes, and snow is an excellent reflector for ultraviolet rays. Also, at higher altitudes you have a smaller cushion sphere above you; thus, the level of exposure on a mountain is much higher than it would be at sea level on a beach.

Prevention

The prevention of windburn and sunburn should go hand in hand. Covering the skin, using sunscreen, and moisturizing are important prevention methods for both windburn and sunburn.

*Sunscreen: For prevention of sunburns, one should not forget the sunscreen in the winter. The moisturizer in the sunscreen can help prevent windburn. Moreover, most people do not think they are receiving ultraviolet light when it is cold or snowing outside but, in fact, sunscreen acts as environmental protection against UV-UVB light as well as providing moisturizing agents. Suncreen needs to be replaced every couple of hours. Moisturizing with sunscreen while going up a ski lift will be good to protect your skin. Use highest SPF, 30 to 50, and preferably a zinc-based or avobenzone based sunscreen.Fact|date=March 2007
*Lips: Also, the lips should be moisturized with a sun block lip protector.
*Covering: A skier faces low humidity, direct wind, and cold temperatures. Ideally, one should wear fleece-based protection for the entire face to both comfort the skin and protect it from wind.
*Goggles: Goggles are also very important.

Treatment

Aloe-based moisturizer alleviates the symptoms of windburn.Fact|date=March 2008 Cocoa butter works well too.Fact|date=March 2008 Avoid scratching or rubbing the affected area too much.

External links

* [http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/48/228.cfm treating windburn]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • windburn — [wind′bʉrn΄] n. a roughened, reddened, sore condition of the skin, caused by overexposure to the wind …   English World dictionary

  • windburn — noun Date: 1925 irritation of the skin caused by wind • windburned adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • windburn — windburned, adj. /wind berrn /, n. an inflammation of the skin, esp. that of the face and hands, caused by overexposure to the wind. [1920 25; WIND1 + BURN1] * * * …   Universalium

  • windburn — noun an irritation of the skin caused by exposure to the wind …   Wiktionary

  • windburn — Erythema of the face due to exposure to wind. * * * wind·burn .bərn n irritation of the skin caused by wind wind·burned .bərnd adj * * * wind·burn (windґbərn) chapping of the skin caused by excessive exposure to wind …   Medical dictionary

  • windburn — wind|burn [ wınd,bɜrn ] noun uncount red skin that you get when you have been in a strong wind …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • windburn — n. skin inflammation caused by exposure to wind …   English contemporary dictionary

  • windburn — noun reddening and soreness of the skin caused by prolonged exposure to the wind. Derivatives windburned (also windburnt) adjective …   English new terms dictionary

  • windburn — wind•burn [[t]ˈwɪndˌbɜrn[/t]] n. pat an inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to the wind • Etymology: 1920–25 wind′burned , adj …   From formal English to slang

  • windburn — /ˈwɪndbɜn/ (say windbern) noun inflammation of the face, hands, etc., caused by excessive exposure to the wind. {wind1 + burn1} …  

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