As you already know, to avoid sunburn we must apply and reapply sunscreen all day. This is if you want to keep your skin looking youthful and most importantly, minimize the risk of cancer of the skin. But sometimes, you may have missed replenishing your sunscreen once you run out, or you just spend too much time on it. Most of the time of thought under the rays of the sun, so you end with a lobster-red sunburn, painful, hot, and with itch. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ease your sunburn and get relief at the moment. While prevention is key, treating sunburns with certain home remedies can help you feel better quickly. This will encourage your skin to heal, reducing redness and pain.
Sunburn and its symptoms
The burns Solar systems are the result of excessive exposure to the sun’s rays, but it can also be from an equivalent to the sun such as a tanning bed or other source of rays. Uv. Really most people believe that sunburn can occur only on the beach, it can occur even during a walk in the mountains. In fact, the rays Uv are much are powerful at high altitudes, but whatever the scenario, if the skin isn’t well protected, it will be exposed to the risk of sunburn.
But also to not using adequate protection, you also have to take into account your skin type. Fair-skinned people are the most prone to sunburn, as their melanocytes struggle to produce melanin. This is the substance that promotes tanning and naturally protects the skin from UV rays. Of course, by this, we don’t mean that people with olive or dark skin are excluded from sunburn. Of course, heat burns by the sun most common during the summer when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Types of sunburn
Symptoms of mild or first-degree sunburn, include redness of the skin and pain. After about four to seven days, peeling of the skin may occur. While symptoms of severe sunburn are called sun poisoning and may include burning skin and blisters, dehydration, and that balance electrolytic and infection. Although it is something really very rare, people could also get sunburns from third grade. Symptoms of third-degree sunburn include a high fever and pains not only on contact with the skin but also in the joints. The skin becomes very red and is covered with blisters that open, favoring the development of skin infections. Of course, in this case, the deeper layers of the skin tissue are affected. It should be mentioned that, in extreme cases, the person must be transferred immediately to the emergency room.
How to deal with sunburn
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to magically make your sunburn disappear, but there are a few tricks you can try to alleviate your suffering. Well, it is important that when you realize that you have been burned by the sun, you get away from it as soon as possible. To alleviate the symptoms, try what we will indicate below.
Take cold baths or showers
Of course, hot water can irritate your skin, even more than it is due to sunburn. But relaxing under a stream of cold water can help calm inflammation, and if you can soak in a cool bath, that would be much better. As soon as you get out of the tub or shower, pat yourself dry. You should leave a little moisture on your skin. Then you can apply a moisturizer. This will help trap water on your skin and can reduce the dryness that would aggravate your irritation. If you don’t want a cold shower or bath, you can try placing a cool, damp towel on your skin to ease the discomfort, and then follow up with a moisturizer.
Apply a moisturizer
Certainly, most people trust aloe vera for its skin-soothing properties. In fact, it can help with irritation from sunburn. The gel I know found within the plant is perfect for sunburned skin and especially to accelerate healing. If you have this plant inside your home, split a leaf and apply it directly to the skin, or buy a gel pure aloe vera. On the other hand, soy might be a more surprising ingredient for post-sunburn skincare, but it could allow the skin to trap in more moisturizing water. You may also wish to apply calamine lotion, to help with itching and discomfort. Now if you are really having a hard time then you can use over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Try to avoid petroleum products, no matter how hydrating they may seem, as they can trap heat on the skin.
You must stay hydrated
Of course, everyone’s fluid needs are different. However, the average consumption is two and a half liters. Keep in mind that sunburn severe conditions force the blood vessels to dilate, causing dehydration. It is important that the first days after the sunburn, you increase your intake of water and other beverages to stay hydrated but leave aside caffeine and alcohol.
Add oatmeal to your bath
Another cure for sunburn: Add oatmeal to your bath. Some studies have found that oatmeal helps control inflammation and reduces itching. You can simply grind oatmeal with the help of a food processor and add it to your tub or bathtub. Preferably mix the oatmeal with cold water and stay there for about 15-20 minutes. Then pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Use ice or frozen vegetables for inflammation
Wrap an ice pack in a damp cloth and hold it on sunburned skin. This will absorb some of the heat from your skin, it will also constrict the blood vessels and of course, reduce the swelling. Ice water is also another option. Put water and ice in a bowl, soak a cloth, and place it on the burned skin. Repeat this until you already notice that the cloth isn’t that cold. In the same way, you could take a bag of frozen peas and use it. But be sure to wrap it in a cloth so you don’t put it directly on the skin.
Try milk and yogurt
Apply milk cool with a clean cloth on sunburned skin. The milk will create a protein film that will help relieve discomfort caused by sunburn and reduce heat. Take a container of yogurt Chill from the refrigerator and apply generously to the burn area, this will also ease the symptoms.
Consider essential oils
Essential oils are definitely always present when it comes to home remedies. The essential oil of lavender provides antifungal, antibacterial, and carminative properties that can alleviate a sunburn. The essential oil of sandalwood can be used to reduce inflammation while cooling burns. This oil is also capable of killing germs that could cause infections. Similarly, the essential oil of eucalyptus possesses a calming effect and also antibacterial properties. Also, coriander essential oil reduces inflammation very quickly.
Try cucumbers
cucumbers have natural antioxidant and analgesic properties. You can cool the cucumbers, then crush them in a blender to create a paste. This paste should be applied to areas affected by the sun, including the face. Cucumber can also alleviate peeling skin after a sunburn.
Protect your burn without exposing yourself again
Of course, when you have a sunburn, you don’t want to do anything to make the discomfort worse. So, you will want to by all means avoid UV rays while your skin heals completely. But if there is nothing you can do and you must go outside, then be sure to wear protective clothing and sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Tightly woven fabrics work best.
Condition your sheets before bed
Of course, with your skin so battered by a sunburn, trying to sleep can be very unpleasant and challenging. But you certainly need to rest for your body to recover. So try sprinkling talcum powder on the sheets to minimize rubbing and friction. An air mattress can also help you sleep more easily, as it retains less heat. It is important to mention that you preferably wear soft and comfortable fabrics like cotton while you heal to minimize any rubbing that could further irritate your skin.
What to do if your skin is blistered or peeling
It is very important that if you have blisters, you don’t even think about popping them. Believe it or not, blisters, which are the way your skin tries to heal itself and avoid infections. They also mean that you have a second-degree burn, which has passed the outer layer of your skin. Some people may be tempted to pop those blisters, but it is actually better not to do so as they risk getting infections as well as having much more pain.
Now, if a blister breaks on its own, it is recommended to clean the area with water and very mild soap and then apply a little antibiotic cream and bandage with gauze. Of course, a single blister hardly ever comes out. Usually many come out. If this is the case in addition to having extremely reddened skin, you have a lot of pain and no home treatment has worked to alleviate the symptoms, it is time for you to contact a dermatologist.
Don’t peel your skin
As we already mentioned, blisters are a sign of severe damage and should be treated with great care. When they break apart on their own, some people are also tempted to peel off the upper skin. Keep in mind that this action can also cause infection by letting air come into contact with nerve endings that are sensitive to sunburn. Although it isn’t recommended that you burst the blisters, some experts indicate that to drain the liquid from them, you must first sterilize a needle by holding it over a flame. Then you should pierce the edge of the blister and press the top very gently so that the liquid comes out and leave the blisters alone. Remember that if you notice signs of infection such as swelling or pus, it is important that you go to your dermatologist.
Take an analgesic
It can be said that the body sees a sunburn as an injury, so it responds with inflammation. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help ease the painful discomfort. There are many pain relief creams and sprays with ingredients like lidocaine and benzocaine. We repeat that, try not to use them for your sunburns. These can irritate sensitive skin and even cause an allergic reaction.
When should you see a doctor to relieve your sunburn?
As you already know there are three types of sunburn and just a very bad burn can be difficult to treat with home remedies. You should see your doctor if you experience nausea, chills, fever, fainting, extensive blisters, general weakness, patches of purple discoloration, or severe itching. If proper treatment isn’t applied, severe sunburn can trigger an infection, thus exacerbating the problem. It is worth mentioning that, in the same way, it is recommended that you consult your doctor if you are taking prescription drugs. Some medications, such as antibiotics, tranquilizers, and antifungal medications, can certainly raise your sensitivity to the sun and cause reactions of some kind.
