3. Swelling
When you have been out in the sun for too long and your skin becomes red and irritated, if it is bad enough or not treated properly after the prolonged sun exposure it may cause the areas to begin to swell. This is one of the signs that your bad sunburn is actually sun poisoning. When the skin begins to swell it can be a sign that something within your body is seriously wrong.
The swelling may begin in the areas of the body that were exposed to the sun for too long. You may also experience swelling in other areas of the body. This includes the extremities such as the hands and the feet. The cause of the swelling is the retention of water. Your body is trying to fight off the infection. If your arms and feet become swollen make sure to keep them elevated as much as possible as this can help to alleviate some of the swelling.