What Really Causes Sunburns?

The way the sun damages your skin is weirder than you ever thought.
↓Want more info?↓

Nature: Sunlight Damages DNA in the Dark

The Protective Role of Melanin Against UV Damage in Human Skin

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Host, Writer, Animator, Editor
Anna Rothschild

Videography
Sara Tewksbury and Anna Rothschild

Production Help
Sara Tewksbury

Special Thanks to Dr. Douglas Brash and Dr. Barbara Gilchrest

FOOTAGE AND IMAGES

Original Footage
©WGBH Educational Foundation

Sunburn
Wikimedia Commons/Wikioogle=world Take Over

Trees and Sunshine
Wikimedia Commons/Richs5812

Hands of Love
Wikimedia Commons/Mr-yuyu

Tan lines on a human female chest
Wikimedia Commons/Evil Erin

Sunburn (131417495)
Wikimedia Commons/Kelly Sue DeConnick

Sunburnt Back (3)
Wikimedia Commons/Pavel Ševela

Malignant melanoma on chest
Wikimedia Commons/CDC/Carl Washington, M.D. Emory Univ. School of Medicine; Mona Saraiya, MD, MPH

SFX

Cockroaches
Freesound/StateAardvark­
(used with permission from author)

Squeak Pack/squeak_10
Freesound/Corsica_S

Produced by WGBH for PBS Digital Studios

[bipolarbear]

Who else is watching with sunburns that are stinging like hell

[frankgoheen]

who else watched this when they had sunburn

[natemac]

As somebody with a massive sunburn right now, that photo of skin cancer is true horror.

[Caloy_OFFICIAL]

"what causes sunburns?"
me, an intellectual: "the sun is a deadly lazer"

[ethanedwards]

Did anyone notice there's a plant growing out of her shoe? It's in the background.

[horsemengamersmom]

I was out for 6 hours and I got a major sunburn

[exnyy]

I’m watching this while I have a sunburn in my face. I thought it was ok but-

[MegaMementoMori]

Being outside and exploring the world excites your curiosity while free radicals excite your electrons :D

[pinkjunkie]

As ever, I really enjoyed this. I'm one of those people who never burn, and this is due to me having the genetic condition, neurofibromatosis (type one) I don't understand why this is, but it is commonly the case with people who have it. We often are also vitamin D deficient too, from what I understand of it our skin cant absorb certain parts of the sunlight properly; resulting in the deficiency and the lack of sun burn. Neurofibromatosis type one is a mutation of chromosome 17. It can cause a host of problems, i'm long term disabled due to it; but the ability to tan well is a silver lining. Tho we do still have to be careful in the sun as the cancer risk is still there and slightly raised. So only a thin lining on that cloud. Anywhoo, great video :)

[Shiralkian]

The moment I start to notice a kind of "itch" in my skin from heating I take it as a warning that I should get out from under the sun.

Also, that shoe-plant is pretty cool :D

[katherinerichardson]

even when I use sunscreen properly I still get burned!

[anafri]

That's why I most of the time stay at home.

[ozdergekko]

I'm sure I mentioned before how much more relaxed the new video style is. Love it!

[hi.]

I'm never going out in the sun again

[smayo]

I did marching band camp the summers before my freshman and sophomore high years. The first week was always the worst. It was painful from constantly holding up my instrument for long periods of time and my body not being used to the rigorous activity, and no matter how much sunscreen I put on, I always ended up tomato red at least once each season. I ended up with a nice farmer’s tan though. 👍

[ShoyuRamenBreakingBad]

So my arms, shoulders, and back are filled with billions of dead, decomposing DNA. Id like to unlearn this please.

[captain_bogan]

Me and my twin always get sunburn we haven’t had it in half a year but we’re really white and we once had the itches sunburn Omg it was so bad though our mum told us not to have a shower because it will go but come back worst I couldn’t take it so I had a shower couple days later we formed blisters ohh they were so wierd but they looked weird and my twin and I couldn’t take it so my mum was like “Ok you guys hate it I will pop all 20 on each side even though it wasn’t big but I warn you. You’ll have sensitive skin ok” and me and my brother were like we don’t care as long as it’s gone my mum was such a legend I love her because she wants the best of us and really kind to everyone and if theirs something bad like my asthma she will to everything to prevent it from getting worst I’m a bit sad thought I have asthma and my twin doesn’t btw were not identical

[dragonslayerornstein]

I hate my skin. I’d apply SPF 100 sunscreen 3 times over 4 hours and STILL get burned even with a boonie hat on. I’m just not gonna go to the beach anymore.

[margaritamtz]

I am sunburned. Was curious about the science behind them. I heard cancer and freaked tf out.

[ilovekylermurray]

if you really want your sunburn to go away, add coconut oil on the parts that are burned. not only does it make your sunburn go away quicker, in relieves the pain also.