How To Treat Sunburns
When the sun comes out, it can be really tempting to shed your clothes and start working on your tan. But you need to protect yourself properly. If you’re not covering yourself in sunscreen or hiding in the shade, you could end up with a painful sunburn all over your body. You can find sunscreen for men that allows you to tan, without exposing your skin to UV rays.
Sunburn is basically a form of radiation burn that affects your skin. It happens when you overexpose yourself to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There are varying degrees of sunburn, but all of them can lead to serious pain and discomfort. If you are unlucky enough to get it, here’s the best way to treat sunburns.
Cool It Down Immediately
From the first moment you notice that you’ve got a sunburn, you need to cool your skin down. If you’re near a pool, lake, or ocean, take a dip and reduce the temperature of your skin. However, don’t stay outside for too long because it could make the sunburn worse. Then, when you get back inside, you can cool your skin down with the following tips.
Put A Towel On Your Skin
One of the worst parts of sunburn is that your skin gets really hot. It makes it impossible to sleep and is generally uncomfortable. You’re going to want to jump in a cold shower every five minutes, but that isn’t really practical. Instead, try putting a cold, damp towel on your skin for 10-15 minutes a few times a day. It won’t get rid of the pain, but it will ease it.
Take A Cold Shower Or Bath
If the cold towel isn’t enough, a cold shower or bath should cool your skin down. This isn’t going to make the sunburn go away quicker, but it will help to ease the symptoms. It’s important not to stay in the shower or bath for too long as it could dry your skin out and make the sunburn worse. Also, avoid harsh soaps, which could also lead to aggravating the burn.
Use The Right Moisturizer
There are all sorts of treatments on the market to help heal your skin and relieve the pain. Any natural moisturizer will help, but there are some that will work better than others. Look for a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy because these ingredients will help your skin. Make sure you avoid the following ingredients: petroleum, benzocaine, and lidocaine. Petroleum is especially bad because it traps the heat in your skin. If your sunburn is really bad, ask your pharmacist for a treatment that will heal your skin faster.
Use Ibuprofen To Treat The Pain
Sunburn can be pretty damn painful, especially in the first few days. You will probably want to reach for the painkillers to make it a bit easier. You can use any standard painkiller, but we’d recommend using Ibuprofen. Not only does it target the pain, but it also reduces the inflammation caused by the sunburn. If you can’t get your hands on any Ibuprofen, paracetamol is also effective.
Keep Well Hydrated
One of the biggest symptoms of sunburn is dehydration. This can lead to further health complications and can put you out of action for a few days, which is the last thing you want if you’re on holiday. It’s extremely important to keep well hydrated when you’re suffering from a sunburn. Drink more water than you would usually drink, and you should be feeling back to normal in a few days.
Don’t Touch The Blisters
If your skin starts to blister, it means you’ve got a second-degree sunburn. Don’t worry, your skin should still start to heal within a few days, but it’s important not to pop the blisters. We know how tempting it is to pop a blister, but it’s really not a good idea. The blisters are your skin’s reaction to the burn and are a sign that it’s healing. Make sure you keep them clean and dry, and in the event that you do pop one you should keep the skin protected.
Protect Your Skin
Speaking of protecting your skin, this is one of the most important ways to treat your sunburn. The last thing you want to do is expose your skin to more UV radiation. If you are going outside, your whole body should be covered in sunscreen. Also, wear loose clothes to further protect your body from the sun. It might be too hot to wear a long-sleeved top and trousers, but this small bit of discomfort is going to stop the sunburn from getting worse.
Remember, you can still get sunburnt through clouds, so don’t fall into a false sense of security if the sun isn’t out. If you have to go outside, put on your sunglasses and a sunhat, and hide in the shade until your skin has healed.
Rest
Sunburn can often lead to further illnesses like sun poisoning and sunstroke. That’s why it’s important to treat it as an illness and get plenty of rest. It can be really frustrating if you’re on holiday and you’ve got to spend the day in bed, but it will make you feel better in the long run. If you don’t rest up after a sunburn, you could end up having to spend more than a couple of days in bed. Don’t worry though, you’ll soon be back to full health. If you like to exercise in the sun, check out our tips for running in the heat.
Visit The Doctor If You Feel Sick
Most cases of sunburn are easily treatable and only last a couple of days. If you have a really serious sunburn it can make you feel sick and if that happens, you need to visit the doctor urgently. Symptoms to look out for include dizziness, headaches, feeling cold, being sick, and generally feeling weak. Also, if your sunburn doesn’t start to heal after two or three days, you should see a dermatologist.
Sources:
- Treating sunburn – American Academy Of Dermatology
- What You Should Do For A Sunburn – Summit Medical Group
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