Suntans and Sunburns
SUNTANS & SUNBURNS: A CASE STUDY in the INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
A Painful Winter Break
On the first day after arriving in Australia for Winter Break, a student plays volleyball out in the sun for six hours. Later that night he notices that the skin on his trunk, legs, and arms becomes red, blistered, swollen and extremely painful. By morning all of the afflicted areas have developed numerous blisters. These areas cover about 30% of the trunk (front and back) and 40% of the arms and legs.
1. What organ has been damaged?
2. What general types of tissue have been afflicted?
3. What type of burn has the student received?
Explain.
4. What type of radiation has caused the burn?
5. List ALL the layers of the skin that have been damaged.
6. List ALL the layers that have been killed.
7. Why is this type of burn so painful?
8. What percentage of the total body surface has been burned? SHOW YOUR CALCULATIONS!
FACT: A burn is considered critical and should receive prompt medical attention if:
25% of the body is covered by 2nd degree burns or 10% of the body is covered by 3rd degree burns
9. Is the burn critical? Should the student seek medical attention?
Recovery:
10. After a few days the skin peels and the burned areas begin to heal. The student notices that the healing areas are more susceptible to injuries due to chafing or trauma. What has happened to the skin that would cause this increased susceptibility?
11. During the next week after the student returns to the United States, his friend tells him that a sunburn prepares his skin for a deep tan. His friend encourages him to quickly begin tanning sessions at a local tanning salon before the effects of the burn wear off. What would you advise him to do?
Why?
12. Is a deep tan a sign of skin that is healthy or severely stressed?
Explain your
A Painful Winter Break
On the first day after arriving in Australia for Winter Break, a student plays volleyball out in the sun for six hours. Later that night he notices that the skin on his trunk, legs, and arms becomes red, blistered, swollen and extremely painful. By morning all of the afflicted areas have developed numerous blisters. These areas cover about 30% of the trunk (front and back) and 40% of the arms and legs.
1. What organ has been damaged?
2. What general types of tissue have been afflicted?
3. What type of burn has the student received?
Explain.
4. What type of radiation has caused the burn?
5. List ALL the layers of the skin that have been damaged.
6. List ALL the layers that have been killed.
7. Why is this type of burn so painful?
8. What percentage of the total body surface has been burned? SHOW YOUR CALCULATIONS!
FACT: A burn is considered critical and should receive prompt medical attention if:
25% of the body is covered by 2nd degree burns or 10% of the body is covered by 3rd degree burns
9. Is the burn critical? Should the student seek medical attention?
Recovery:
10. After a few days the skin peels and the burned areas begin to heal. The student notices that the healing areas are more susceptible to injuries due to chafing or trauma. What has happened to the skin that would cause this increased susceptibility?
11. During the next week after the student returns to the United States, his friend tells him that a sunburn prepares his skin for a deep tan. His friend encourages him to quickly begin tanning sessions at a local tanning salon before the effects of the burn wear off. What would you advise him to do?
Why?
12. Is a deep tan a sign of skin that is healthy or severely stressed?
Explain your