In the metropolitan and central regions, rain will occasionally fall in the morning and mostly stop in the afternoon. The expected rainfall is between 5 and 40 mm. Fine dust levels are expected to be 'good' across all areas.
Today's health = As August has already arrived in the height of summer, more and more vacationers are heading to the mountains or the sea for summer holidays. With the end of the monsoon season and the onset of intense heat, vacationers need to be cautious not only of heat-related illnesses but also of sunburn.
Sunburn is a burn caused by the skin turning red due to exposure to hot sunlight. It is usually a mild burn at about 1 to 2 degrees, but improper initial treatment can lead to secondary infection, so caution is necessary. Especially if the burn is second degree or higher, blisters may form on the skin, allowing bacteria to penetrate the area. Do not burst blisters caused by burns on your own; it is best to seek treatment at a nearby hospital for dressing care. When applying burn ointment, care must be taken to prevent secondary infection caused by foreign substances mixing with the ointment.
If the skin reddened by sunburn feels stinging and painful, the first step is to cool the affected area. This is because the heat can penetrate deeper into muscles and other tissues, worsening the symptoms and leading to third-degree burns. It is advisable to manage the burn area by soaking it in cold water or covering it with a clean towel soaked in cold water for about 20 minutes. In particular, exceeding 20 minutes can have adverse effects on the skin due to excessive cooling, so caution is necessary.
Conversely, if a 1-2 degree burn is poorly managed or exposed to continuous strong sunlight, it can worsen into a third-degree burn, which may actually reduce the sharp, stinging pain. This is because the heat penetrates deep into the tissues beneath the skin, sometimes affecting muscles and nerves. In such cases, do not be reassured just because the pain has disappeared; it is best to visit a hospital as quickly as possible.
Jo Jae-hong, head of the Emergency Medicine Department at Seoul Metropolitan Seonam Hospital, said, "Burns tend to worsen and can develop into complications after sun exposure, so it is best to visit the hospital within a week if possible." He added, "If blisters caused by burns accidentally burst, it is important to first perform the basic care introduced above and to carefully manage visits to prevent secondary infections."