We you think of radiation burns, the first thing that comes to mind is probably nuclear fallout, but there are many other types of radiation burns. For instance, sunburn is a radiation burn and can be so severe as to be life-threatening. Long-term consequences of radiation burns can include cell mutations leading to cancer, even if the burns are mild when they occur. If you have experienced radiation burn, you are at greater risk for suffering radiation burns in the future and must take extra precautions to prevent them.
Causes of Radiation Burns
- Sun exposure
- Tanning beds and sun lamps
- Radio waves
- Microwaves, including from malfunctioning microwave ovens
- Welding
- Nuclear radiation, including nuclear fallout
- Medical treatments including radiation therapy and X-rays
Symptoms of Radiation Burns
The symptoms of radiation burns may not show up right away. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks after the burn for symptoms to appear, depending on the type of radiation involved.
Cancer patients can also experience a little-understood phenomenon called “radiation recall” in which areas that have been treated with radiation react with radiation burn symptoms when chemotherapy is later administered.
Symptoms of radiation burns are very much like the symptoms of thermal burns and can include:
- Red skin
- Pain
- Itching
- Skin appears moist
- Blisters
- Wet or dry skin peeling or sloughing off
- Pigment changes
- Decreased sweating
- Swelling
- Bleeding
if you believe that your radiation burns were the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, or caused by a defective product, please talk to an experienced burn injury attorney right away to learn more about your rights and potential compensation.
