It happens to all of us. That red, hot, stinging feeling that burns every time you touch something or even move. While you’re having a great day outdoors, the sun can be ruthless and your skin feels the consequences later.
We get it. You lather on the sunscreen before heading out for the day and your worries seem to fade. As time passes, you start to feel the sun rays start to slowly bake you. It’s too late to prevent the burn you know is coming, but there are a few steps you can take to speed up the recovery process.
What Now?
Get out of the sun and under the shade
- The longer your skin is in the sun, the more it can burn and blister. If blistering occurs, do not pick at it! This risks infection and scarring.
Take a cool shower
- This helps ease the burn and won’t irritate and dry your skin as a hot, steamy shower would.
Cleanse gently
- When showering, rub gently and skip the exfoliating. Try not to scrub the burned area as this will increase the pain.
Moisturize and hydrate
- Drinking water and applying lotion helps hydrate your skin and decrease inflammation.
Apply aloe vera gel
- Cooling gels help ease the burning sensation and decrease inflammation as well. Avoid overly thick creams and petroleum jelly that can smother the skin and prevent healing.
Use medication
- Anti-inflammatories like aspirin and ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and pain.
Wear light-colored clothing
- Until your burn has healed, avoid dark clothing that will absorb the sun’s rays.
Learn from the Mistake!
Constantly reapply sunscreen
- When applying, use one ounce (enough to fill a shot glass) and reapply every two hours. Stick to SPF 30 or higher.
Don’t skip the sunscreen on a cloudy day
- Sunburns can happen even on cloud-filled days. UV rays pass through the clouds, leaving unsuspecting victims vulnerable to a burn.
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