Tips to Treat Sunburn

It happens to most of us; when we’re out in the sunshine, it’s easy to forget to reapply sunscreen after swimming, or we may misjudge the sun’s strength and get caught out. Sunburn can be excruciating, and it’s too easy to end up with red and sore skin if you get too much sun and without enough sun protection. It is better to follow some great tips to treat sunburn properly.

Although it’s common and seems temporary, a sunburn causes severe and long-lasting damage to your skin. Sunburn also increases your risk of developing skin cancer and skin aging with wrinkles, lines, and uneven skin tone. The best way to deal with sunburn is not to get it in the first place – always remember to slap on your high SPF sunscreen, stay out of the sun as much as possible and reapply sunscreen regularly.

When sunburn hits, treat it as soon as you notice it developing and get out of the sun as quickly as possible. Find some shade, or preferably get indoors. Then you can start to treat the burns.

Keep It Cool

A cool shower or bath will help cool down your skin and remove the sunburn’s sting. Once you’ve bathed or showered, pat yourself dry gently, leaving a little water on your skin. Apply after-sun with built-in moisturizer liberally to help keep the water in your skin and prevent it from drying.

Treat the Soreness

If you feel very sore in any particular area, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream can help soothe the burn. Avoid products like benzocaine or anything that ends in ‘caine,’ even if it starts to itch. These products will irritate the damaged skin and even cause an allergic reaction.

You can also take mild painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling and deal with discomfort.

Stay Hydrated

When you’ve been burned, your body reacts by drawing extra fluids towards the surface of your skin to deal with the damage, taking them away from the rest of your body. This could lead to dehydration if you’re not careful. Avoid making yourself feel worse and load up on water and cooling fluids to take the heat off. Sunburn can also lead to dehydration.

Leave the Blisters Alone

There’s a reason that your skin produces blisters after a sunburn. Those blisters protect your skin from what’s a second-degree burn! If your skin starts to blister, don’t be tempted to burst them. Just leave them to heal naturally. Blisters are there to help your skin heal and protect you from infection. And popping them increases your risk of getting the burns infected. Keep them covered if they are too tempting, and pretend they aren’t there.

Stay Protected

You’ll need to be extra careful to protect your skin while it heals, as the damage has been done, and you don’t want to make it worse. Wear clothes that cover up your skin as much as possible when you’re outdoors. Especially the areas that have been burned. Look for tightly woven fabrics that you can’t see the light through if held up to bright light. Wear a hat and sunglasses too.

After a burn, slather on extra high SPF sunscreen. Be vigilant about reapplying it, and stay in the shade if possible. Better to stay safe than sorry. Avoid overexposure to the sun if possible. And once the sunburn heals, reach out or book a session with your trusted esthetician for skincare products that can help restore your skin’s health and vibrance.

Brilliant Massage & Skin

Burlington, Vermont