Suntans and Sunburns - Case Study

Suntans and Sunburns
A Case Study in the Integumentary System
By WH Cliff and AW Wright A Painful Winter Break

On the first day after arriving in Australia for Christmas vacation, a University of Niagara student plays out in the sun for six hours. Later that night he notices that the skin on his trunk, legs and arms becomes red, 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? Skin

2. What general types of tissue have been afflicted? Stratified Squamous Epithelium in the epidermis, Areolar Connective Tissue, and some Dense Irregular Connective Tissue in the dermis have been afflicted.

3. What type of burn has the student received? Explain. 2nd Degree Burn – Because of the blisters and severe pain.

4. What type of radiation has caused the burn? Ultraviolet Radiation

5. List ALL the layers of the skin that have been damaged? Epidermis (stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum, stratum basale) and the upper region of the Dermis (papillary layer)

6. List ALL layers that have been killed? No layers have been killed, just damaged.

7. What tissue repair process causes the blistering? Tissue Regeneration

8. Why is this type of burn so painful? The dermis has many nerve endings.

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. What percentage of the total body surface has been burned? Show your calculations! (36% X 30%) = 11% (36% X 40%) = 14% (18% X 40%) = 7% 11%+14%+7%= 32% The total body surface that has been burned is 32%.

10. Is the burn critical? Should the student seek medical attention? Yes this burn is critical and should seek medical attention,

11. List all of the body functions that may be disrupted by such a burn. Integumentary, Nervous, Muscular, and Lymphatic Systems

Recovery

12. 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? The top layer of skin is dead and begins to peel off; the area underneath the peeling skin is more susceptible to injuries because it is like an open wound and the skin that is there is thin.

During the next week after the student returns to the 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.

13. What would you advise him to do? Why? I would advise him not to go tanning. If he did it could cause more damage to the already damaged tissues and could increase his chance of skin cancer.

14. Is a deep tan a sign of skin that is healthy or severely stressed? Explain your answer.
A deep tan is a sign of skin that is severely stressed because it shows that skin and tissue have been damaged.