While you can certainly try your best to avoid getting a sunburn, life happens. You end up with red, inflamed skin that is hot and painful to the touch. It’s a sure sign you’ve gotten much too much sun, and now it’s time to step into treatment mode. The good news is that as long as it isn’t a serious sunburn, one with blisters and a fever present, you are probably safe to treat it yourself at home. But what are the best ways to treat a painful sunburn and then prevent future burns? Here are some essential tips.
Hydrate Your Body
The first thing you want to do once you realize you have a sunburn is to immediately start hydrating your body. This means drinking water and plenty of it. When you have a sunburn, it will actually draw fluid to the surface of the skin in order to repair the skin, which means the rest of your body needs to be re-hydrated.
It’s wise to keep up with the extra hydration until your burn has fully healed.
Take a Cool Shower or Bath
After you’ve guzzled some water, it’s a good idea to go ahead and take a cool shower or bath. This will obviously cool down the surface of the skin, which will help to relieve some of the pain. When you get out of the bath/shower, just pat yourself dry rather than rubbing. It’s also a good idea to let the majority of your body air dry.
Be sure to use a gentle cleanser in the bath or shower, one without heavy perfume or dyes that could essentially irritate your sunburn. Something that claims to be moisturizing, hydrating, or soothing are all great options.
Apply Moisturizer to the Skin
Now that your skin is clean and dry, it’s time to moisturize. While your regular moisturizer may be fine on a day-to-day basis, it may not be adequate with a sunburn. Ideally, you want to apply Aloe Vera to the burn, as this will soothe the skin, cool it down, and help it to heal. Look for pure Aloe Vera gel without any other added ingredients.
With Aloe Vera, you are free to really lather it on and let it soak into the skin. It should be re-applied multiple times throughout the day and then before bed. Keeping your skin moisturized can help to prevent peeling from happening, or at least lessen it.
Remember Your Skin Will Be Sensitive Moving Forward
The final tip is to remember that your skin is going to be very sensitive to the sun while it heals. Even after it heals, it can still stay sensitive. This means you’ll burn faster and easier. Take extra caution to cover up with loose light clothing and a hat, and ensure you’re wearing ample SPF sun protection that is reapplied throughout the day.
As Pharmacy Online points out, there are all kinds of sunscreen formulations nowadays, from lotions to sprays, to balms, sticks, and even powder. You’re bound to find one that works well for you.
Quick Response is Key
When it comes to a sunburn, the faster you respond and jump into action with remedies, the less pain and discomfort you’ll have, and the faster you can heal.