Folks just love to soak in the sunny outdoors, but your beloved sun isn't always your best friend. Prolonged sun exposure can burn you, both literally and figuratively. No need to go running for the cave just yet. We're here to enlighten you on sun-related conditions and how to treat them.

Talk of sunburns might evoke images of red, lobster-like beach-goers, the unfortunate victims of ultraviolet (UV) warfare. These burns arise when UV radiation lays siege to your skin cells' DNA, causing inflammation. The casualties? The cells affected, which eventually die and shed, leaving you with a peeling, flaking mess. Symptoms range from the predictable redness and pain to more serious signs like fever and chills in severe instances.

To be clear, sunburns aren’t some warped summer badge of honour. Even your polar escapades or slightly overcast days can leave you burned so long as there is direct sun contact. The fix? Either bathe in sunscreen or find some sun-smart threads.

Continued sun worship can also up your risk for squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – uncool in every way. If your sunburn crosses into blister territory, whatever you do, don't blemish your 'don't break the blister' record.

Moving on to dehydration, it’s more than just a matter of being parched. Excessive fluid and electrolyte loss can shake up your body functionality, potentially landing you with cramps, giddiness and even palpitations. To side-step dehydration, hydrate before you hit thirsty.

But chugging water like there's no tomorrow is not the answer. Meet hyponatremia, also known as 'water intoxication', a nasty repercussion of losing too much sodium through sweat without replacing it during rehydration. Cue foggy thinking, seizures, and coma. Scary, right?

Following the sun exposure dread chain can lead us to heat exhaustion, where your body attempts to fan the heat by driving up your core temperature. The expressway to prevention is simple: Keep your hydration up and avoid pushing your limits on particularly hot, sticky days.

Left untreated, heat exhaustion could escalate into heatstroke. Think of heatstroke as heat exhaustion's evil twin, only more intense and life-threatening. Immediate medical attention is non-negotiable.

Excessive sun time can pack quite a wallop, but there's no need to throw shade at sunny days yet. Just adopt sun-smart practices: slap on sunscreen, wear protective clothing, remember your electrolytes, and recognize when too much is too much. Because the sun should be enjoyed, not end up turning your next beach day into a medical horror flick.