Treating and Preventing Sunburns
When your skin gets too much sun without proper protection from sunscreen, shade, or sun-protective clothing, it can burn. It’s important to begin treating a sunburn as soon as you notice it to help it heal and soothe stinging skin.
The first thing you should do when you notice you’re developing a sunburn is to get out of the sun, preferably indoors. Once you’re indoors, follow these tips to help relieve your discomfort:
- Take frequent cool baths or showers to help relieve the pain. As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry.
- Apply a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin. Do this while your skin is still damp from a bath or shower and whenever you feel discomfort.
You can also apply calamine lotion, place a cool, damp washcloth on the affected area, or take a colloidal oatmeal bath to further relieve discomfort.
- Consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling and discomfort.
- Drink extra water. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking extra water when you’re sunburned helps prevent dehydration.
- If your skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal. Blistering skin means you have a second-degree sunburn. You should not pop the blisters, as blisters form to help your skin heal and protect you from infection. Keep blisters clean, and apply petroleum jelly to protect them while they heal.
Ways to Prevent Getting a Sunburn
It’s wise to always protect your skin from the sun to prevent sunburn and reduce your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. Some ways you can do that are:
- Seek shade whenever outdoors, especially on very sunny days.
- Wear sun-protective clothing — such as long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection.
- Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing.
Although it may seem like a temporary condition, a sunburn—a result of your skin receiving too much exposure from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays—can cause long-lasting damage to the skin. This damage increases your risk of getting skin cancer, making it critical to protect your skin from the sun as often as possible.
For questions about your sunburn or to learn how to better protect your skin from the sun, contact one of our Dermatology providers: https://www.iowaspecialtyhospital.com/services/dermatology
Source: https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-sunburn