Sun burns equal to solar dermatitis, categorized in “sun burned disease” according to the Chinese medical theory, also called “sun burned sore”. 

The main reason is sun exposure, that skin is invaded by “Yan heat with dampness toxin”, the “wind-dampness heat” retained in the skin and leads to prurigo, eczema, or inflammatory erythema, with topical higher temperature and slightly swelling. 

Strong sun light contains various UV ray in different wave length that all may damage human skin. 

Sun burns during sea training are damages result from long-time skin exposure to various excessive UV radiations, and are similar to superficial burns and scalds that might occur desquamation and vesicle.

Sun burns is also a kind of burns, we topical administrated MEBO, which differed from the formerly administration of JingWanHong ointment, Bactroban ointment, Green ointment, Silver Sulfadiazine(SD-Ag) cream, Compositus Mentholi cream, Compound Dexamethasone Acetate ointment, and self-made Chinese herbal decoction. 

Reviewed analysis found that MEBO gained better therapeutic results than other therapy. 

According to the literature report, MEBO possessed almost equal ability as normal skin of preventing evaporation of the lesion[1], at the same time, decreased stress response of the organism, improved microcirculation, reduced evaporation of the lesion as well as general capillary exudation, improved hemorheology index. 

MEBO reduced evaporation as well as provided an approximate physiological environment [2], and kept a better permeability without affecting topical drainage of metabolites and substance exchanges. 

As the treatment continued, liquefaction from internal and external of the superficial necrosis that enabled necrosis and MEBO turn into liquefaction to drain and float on the surface of the lesion, thus, can be successfully removed during dressings changing. 

Besides, MEBO has antiseptic feature under humid environment that declined infection morbidity and benefited lesion repair. 

Administration of MEBO can realize physiological regenerative repair of the lesion and shorten the healing duration. Lesion of superficial II degree had no escharation.

In summary, MEBO has advantage of convenient, feasible, as well as reliable therapeutic result, etc. 

Therefore, it worth promoting to apply MEBO in Sun Burns.

Treatment

1. Topical Treatment: Major therapy was applied MEBO that invented by Beijing Bright Chinese Medicine Institution of Burns Wounds & Surface Ulcers. Irrigated the lesion with normal saline to remove remained sea water, dried up and then applied MEBO directly on the lesion. Ointment thickness reached 1mm, and changed dressings every 4 to 6 hours. Cleaned away the remained ointment or exudates on the lesion by cotton or gauze before dressings changing. Patients of superficial Ⅱ degree with vesicles directly applied the ointment after released the blister fluid in low

2. General Treatment: Major target is antiseptic and antalgesic, including early treatment, full rest, shock prevention, fluid supplement, fluid and electrolytes equivalence, prophylaxis, and specific Chinese medical therapy, etc. Patients of siriasis and fever, fist of all were cooling and fluid supplement, then managed lesion after condition stabled. Routine general prophylaxis for cases that total sun burned area over 20% TBSA. Considered significances of sun burns and sea water bathe, no matter infected or not, administrated stronger and broad spectrum antibiotics with full process (5 to 7 days) as larger or deeper sun burned area. Be aware of the ventilation and humidity of the therapeutic environment, and took self-made Chinese herbal drinks by oral everyday. Treat respectively to those of server dehydration, convulsion, and skin allergy.

Therapeutic Results

1. Healing and Outcome of the Lesion: Cases in this group, 240 cases cured, 8 cases transferred, total cure rate is 97.6%. Healing duration of superficial Ⅱ degree is 7.84±2.58 days, without escharation. Among the cases of this group, 3 cases occurred erythra surround the lesion, 2 cases had skin allergic reaction.

2. Morbidity of Topical Infection and Adverse Effect: Lower morbidity of topical infection by using MEBT, 6 cases in this group all happened during dressings changing by themselves of Ⅰ degree sun burns, main reasons are pruritus, improper environment, sweating and improper dressings changing. No general toxicity and adverse effect on large area sun burned in-patients. Morbidity of infection is 2.5%.

3. Antalgesic Effects: According to the observation, topical pain had relieved in different degree after applied drugs. Mild to moderate patients complaint neither algesia nor topical bleeding without administration of antalgesics during treatment or dressings changing.

Full report: Clinical Experience with MEBO in Treating 248 Cases of SunBurn,