Why do you feel more tired when sunburnt?
In: Biology
“Sunburn” is another name for “nuclear radiation damage to millions of cells across a wide area of the body”.
1. There is a flurry of activity by DNA-repair enzymes and other repair processes.
2. Those cells with irreparable damage sense it and commit mass cell-suicide to avoid becoming cancer. Their “bodies” then need to be swept up and taken away.
All together, that is a massive drain on your immune system and body energy stores. And at the same time, being sunburnt probably means you were outside a long time – which means you’re likely dehydrated and maybe muscle fatigued from hiking, swimming etc. Add all that to the radiation damage and it’s no wonder you’re wiped.
Edit: I didn’t mean alpha/beta/gamma radiation, it’s solar UV (*electromagnetic* radiation from a nuclear explosion) that causes sunburn.
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