It’s that time of the year–warm weather, blue skies, swimming, oh…and… sunburns! Of course you didn’t mean to get sunburned, but nobody is perfect. While the damage of a sunburn cannot be reversed, there are simple at-home treatments to reduce the pain and to speed up the healing process.
Here’s a look at some home remedies to soothe your burning skin:
Cool It Down
Cool down your burn by applying cold compresses to your skin or by taking a cool bath or shower to relieve the sting from your sunburn. As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat (NOT rub) yourself dry, but not entirely. Apply a moisturizer on wet skin to help trap the water in your skin to hydrate ease the dryness.
Creams or Gels
Soothe away the burning pain with refreshing cream or gel. Gently rub on a cream or gel that contains ingredients such as Menthol, Camphor, or Aloe. (Secret Tip: Refrigerate the cream to make it feel even more refreshing on your burn!)
Pain Reliever
NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen, can relieve sunburn swelling and pain all over your body.
Stay away from infection
If blisters form, do not scratch or pop them. Not only will it slow down the healing process, but it will increase the risk of infection. If blisters do open, gently clean the area and cover to prevent bacteria from getting in.
Hydrate
Sunshine calls for extra liquids! A sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body leading to dehydration. When sunburned, drink extra water, to prevent further dehydration.
Take Cover
Take extra care to protect your sunburned skin from further exposure. Try to stay inside, but if you MUST go outside, wear clothing that covers your skin and stay in the shade.
Peeling
Peeling is likely inevitable after a sunburn–it is your body’s attempt to rid itself of sun-damaged cells and protect you from premature aging with skin cancer. Unfortunately, with peeling comes itching. While peeling cannot always be avoided, you can reduce it by taking proper care of it with all of the home remedies listed above.
It’s Time to Call a Dermatologist When Your Sunburn…
- Is accompanied by a high fever, extreme pain, headache, confusion, chills, or nausea;
- Is blistering and covers a large portion of your body
- Becomes infected (signs of infections include red streaks or oozing pus)
- Doesn’t respond to at-home remedies within two days;
- Increases in swelling, pain, and tenderness;
- Dry mouth, thirst, reduced urination, dizziness, and fatigue, which are signs of dehydration
Prevention is the best treatment for sunburn. Plan ahead and don’t get sunburned in the first place. Before you go outside apply sunscreen to keep your skin healthy and youthful. And in the future, try to remember how painful this sunburn felt, and “learn from that burn.” Call (202) 664-8342 to schedule an appointment if you have any concerns.
