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weight gain from a sunburn?

(4 posts)

  1. Eleanor
    Member

    I have a moderate sunburn on my lower legs only from a vacation to Hawaii with my husband. I thought I'd covered up well enough, but the shield of the beach cabana left that part too exposed! The rest of me is fine.

    Problem is, it's hard for me to walk because my legs are really swollen up. The pain has mostly gone - I got the burn 3 days ago - but when I got on the scale I'd packed on about 5 lbs! Is this possible? I mean, I know people gain weight from vacation, but we were extremely active (hiking, snorkeling, etc) and did not eat too much. In fact, the day before I got the burn I weighed myself at a spa and I was my correct weight. It's only after I burned that I had put on 5 lbs, and that was just a few days later.

    My legs are indeed swollen and the skin feels unpleasantly stretched. I'm guessing this is water retention from the burn. Anyone else ever experience this? Is this possible? Thanks!

    Posted 2 years ago #

  2. Jennifer G
    Member

    You should call the consulting nurse at a local hospital if you are burnt severely enough that you have edema to tune of 5lbs!

    "Burns of any kind, whether from the sun or other sources lead to water retention because the body secretes toxins at a high rate. This overloads the kidneys causing the body to store water in other areas of the body. Especially 2nd and 3rd degree burns may create a little water retention, and when these burns are extensive, they can create severe edema."

    Posted 2 years ago #

  3. Ellie
    Member

    Yes water retention from a burn is possible. But scales are not always the same everywhere you have to give or take a few pounds when you weigh yourself on different scales.

    Posted 2 years ago #

  4. spoiled4life48
    Member

    it depends. get your legs checked out.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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