Regarding the effects of a super bad sunburn

[Sunburned]

On July 10th, I received the first—and only—sunburn in my life.  (I’m 24, Latino and medium dark-skinned).   From July 10th to July 17th I underwent the full gamut of the sunburn healing process (i.e., bright red skin; very dry, dark brown skin; peeling; back to normal).  My face in general, and my cheeks & nose particular, underwent some serious swelling as a result of the burn.  



It’s now August 10th and my cheeks have a faintly puffy appearance to them.  Moreover, those so-called “smile lines” (which flank our noses on each side) have become much more prominent.  Prior to this sunburn these lines were virtually non-existent and now they’re very noticeable.  However, the real issue is that while my nose has decreased to its normal size, it inexplicably has both retained its swollen appearance and remained red.  



I visited a dermatologist on August 4th for the puffy cheeks/swollen nose and when I suggested that perhaps a topical steroid like Desonide could fix the job, he said that there’s nothing that he could prescribe and with time I would return to normal.  He then said to stop applying aloe vera gel (which I had been doing since July 10th) because it could actually be contributing to the puffiness/swelling.



Today, my nose is still reddish and while it still definitely hasn’t returned to its normal shape, it’s more-or-less back to its normal size.  Additionally, I’m convinced that the reason why I’m having problems with my nose and cheeks is because they were the worst sunburned parts of my face, as well as the only parts of my face to undergo extreme swelling.



So with all of the aforementioned info, here are my questions:



1.] is it possible for a single sunburn to permanently change my facial features?  I know it seems ludicrous but if it’s not possible and my face is indeed healing, the healing's been so unbearably slow that it at least seems as if I might be stuck with this honker (and big smile lines/puffy cheeks) for the rest of my life, a prospect that I don’t particularly like to think about.  

2.] if I do have a real post-burn medical condition, what is it called and is there anything I can take or anyone that I can see for it?  

3.] if my dermatologist was indeed correct and I just need to allow time to heal the injury, about how long might it take to recover fully?

4.] with respect to my puffy cheeks and prominent smile lines, we’ve all heard that too much sun can make you age prematurely but could a single bad sunburn make you look older?  Without exaggeration, these altered smile lines and cheeks have made me look older (and a bit haggard too).

5.] in the worst case scenario (namely, the changes are permanent) what sort of cosmetic surgery could fix each malady?



Many thanks

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

1.  No.  The most it can do is leave your skin red and prone to getting red when hot or wet or exposed to sun, even with a block because the heat rays still get through.

2. I don't know of such a condition.

3. I think he is right and it should take 2-3 months at most.

4. No.

5. I don't think there is need to even contemplate this.



Is it at least possible that you are staring at your face with greater intensity and noticing things that were always there?  Here's a way to tell: show a Friend who doesn't know what you're worried about to look at you face and at a photo from before, and--without any hints or leading questions--ask what if anything seems to have changed.  You may be surprised to learn that little has changed.

[tormented]

I have noticed an obvious appearance of white spots on backs of my  hands and some white small blotches on my arms (near elbow area) recently. I do not sit in the sun and  have not been on any recent sun holidays. I am very fair skinned n ormally but would have acquired a bit of a tanned colour on hands and arms during this summer (Ireland). However these spots have just appeared in recent weeks. I was afraid it was Vitiligo but  my GP and also A&E doctors do not think so. What else could cause this?



I also got a bad burning about 5 years ago in Gran Canaria totally by accident which has left a couple of white patches which will never tan.

[Burntincali04]

This question / statement are related to "sunburned's" comments. Living in NY and not familiar with California’s devilish sun. After arriving in ca I ventured out of my apartment complex for a sunny day's walk in July 04. YES I was wearing a hat, NO I didn’t have sun block on, as I didn't plan on being in the sun that much. Anyway to make a long story short I too was badly burned in my face, my nose was affected the most. That evening my nose started swelling and turned bright red. It took about 1.5 weeks for the blistering and swelling to go away. Now it's been about 3 months and I’m still left with a bright red nose with an ugly rough texture.... (YES the swelling did return to normal). I have tried various lotions, vit E, etc nothing works, when I asked my dermatologist about these issues he gave me (Dermatop Emollient cream), I tried that for a few weeks and it didn't help AT ALL. When I when back to my dermatologist he basically played it down, like I was wasting his time (very unprofessional) especially since I have been seeing him for nearly 2 years and spent thousands of dollars in his office. I would like recommendations for drugs/treatment even if you’re not sure if it will work please let me know and I will do the research. Thanks in advance Dan



ps. Derm-M.D.-ASR  that answer your gave "sunburned's" question about comparing his face now to an old picture because you think it's all in his head is something that you would say if you didn't have the right medical expertise to advice correctly. In Addition just so I don't get the same response, people come up to me a lot and comment that my nose is sunburn before I even get a chance to talk, so NO it's not JUST in my mine.

[Burntincali04]

This question / statement are related to "sunburned's" comments. Living in NY and not familiar with California’s devilish sun. After arriving in ca I ventured out of my apartment complex for a sunny day's walk in July 04. YES I was wearing a hat, NO I didn’t have sun block on, as I didn't plan on being in the sun that much. Anyway to make a long story short I too was badly burned in my face, my nose was affected the most. That evening my nose started swelling and turned bright red. It took about 1.5 weeks for the blistering and swelling to go away. Now it's been about 3 months and I’m still left with a bright red nose with an ugly rough texture.... (YES the swelling did return to normal). I have tried various lotions, vit E, etc nothing works, when I asked my dermatologist about these issues he gave me (Dermatop Emollient cream), I tried that for a few weeks and it didn't help AT ALL. When I when back to my dermatologist he basically played it down, like I was wasting his time (very unprofessional) especially since I have been seeing him for nearly 2 years and spent thousands of dollars in his office. I would like recommendations for drugs/treatment even if you’re not sure if it will work please let me know and I will do the research. Thanks in advance Dan



ps. Derm-M.D.-ASR  that answer your gave "sunburned's" question about comparing his face now to an old picture because you think it's all in his head is something that you would say if you didn't have the right medical expertise to advice correctly. In Addition just so I don't get the same response, people come up to me a lot and comment that my nose is sunburn before I even get a chance to talk, so NO it's not JUST in my mine.

[Burntincali04]

This question / statement are related to "sunburned's" comments. Living in NY and not familiar with California’s devilish sun. After arriving in ca I ventured out of my apartment complex for a sunny day's walk in July 04. YES I was wearing a hat, NO I didn’t have sun block on, as I didn't plan on being in the sun that much. Anyway to make a long story short I too was badly burned in my face, my nose was affected the most. That evening my nose started swelling and turned bright red. It took about 1.5 weeks for the blistering and swelling to go away. Now it's been about 3 months and I’m still left with a bright red nose with an ugly rough texture.... (YES the swelling did return to normal). I have tried various lotions, vit E, etc nothing works, when I asked my dermatologist about these issues he gave me (Dermatop Emollient cream), I tried that for a few weeks and it didn't help AT ALL. When I when back to my dermatologist he basically played it down, like I was wasting his time (very unprofessional) especially since I have been seeing him for nearly 2 years and spent thousands of dollars in his office. I would like recommendations for drugs/treatment even if you’re not sure if it will work please let me know and I will do the research. Thanks in advance Dan



ps. Derm-M.D.-ASR  that answer your gave "sunburned's" question about comparing his face now to an old picture because you think it's all in his head is something that you would say if you didn't have the right medical expertise to advice correctly. In Addition just so I don't get the same response, people come up to me a lot and comment that my nose is sunburn before I even get a chance to talk, so NO it's not JUST in my mine.