During the summer months, it’s wonderful when your horse can spend plenty of time outdoors. However, it’s less pleasant when your horse is exposed to the sun for too long and gets sunburned. Horses, too, can suffer from sun exposure and skin irritation. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at sunburn in horses and show you what you can do to prevent it and care for your horse’s skin.

Types of Sunburn

Too much sun can cause sunburn and other problems in horses. There are three types of sunburn in horses:

• Direct sunburn: caused by too much sunlight, just like in humans. Horses with white noses or thin hair are more susceptible. We often see horses with sunburned noses. This can be effectively treated with a nourishing cream such as Doderm Hydro RepairGel.

Sunburn caused by toxic phototoxic substances: Certain chemicals in the skin make it more sensitive to UV light. These substances are found in plants such as St. John’s wort, hogweed, buckwheat, alfalfa, and red clover. Also, some 

• Medications, ointments, and creams can have this effect. Consult your veterinarian if you use them on your horse.
• Sunburn caused by liver problems: Caused by toxic plants such as ragwort, which can lead to liver problems. Severe damage impairs the liver’s ability to process waste products. Make sure the pasture is free of ragwort.

Symptoms of sunburn

Sunburn in horses varies in severity:

• Mild burning sensation: redness, thickening of the skin, warm and tender to the touch.
• Severe burns: Blisters that ooze fluid; after a few days, the skin may die off, leaving open wounds or scabs. The actual damage often becomes apparent only after a few days. In severe cases, blood tests to check liver enzymes and liver function may be necessary.

Preventing Sunburn

Prevention is always better than cure. To prevent sunburn:

• Keep your horse covered during peak hours: Make sure your horse is in the shade, or keep it indoors during the hottest part of the day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Use of UV-resistant materials: such as nose nets, blankets, and leg boots. Many fly or eczema blankets nowadays have a UV-resistant layer.
• Sunscreen: Apply a water-resistant sunscreen with a high SPF to your horse regularly. There are special sunscreens available for horses, but human sunscreens can also be used as long as they are safe for animals.

Treating Sunburn

In cases of severe sunburn, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian to develop a treatment plan. Do not cover open wounds with a blanket, as this can lead to scalding, infection, and poor healing.

Mild sunburns can be treated with skincare products that soothe and moisturize the skin. Use preventive measures such as sunscreen and UV-protective hats and face masks to prevent more severe sunburn.

Doderm Hydro Repair Gel

Our Doderm Hydro RepairGel is ideal for treating minor skin burns. It contains antibodies from bovine colostrum (first milk), which boost the skin’s resilience and balance the skin microbiome.

The gel contains natural plant oils that are easily broken down and absorbed by the skin’s enzymes. This allows the skin to regenerate itself and better protect itself against external influences. In addition, the gel contains plant extracts and vitamins that support the skin’s self-regeneration, and ceramides help keep skin cells together. This keeps the skin hydrated and protects it from bacteria. You can learn all about our natural ingredients on our ingredients page.

Would you like to learn more about exactly how Doderm Hydro RepairGel works? Read all about it on our“How It Works”page!

We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about sunburn in horses. If you have any questions after reading this post, please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to assist you!