Although temporary, sunburns can cause long-lasting damage to the skin by significantly increasing the risk of skin cancers, wrinkles, and sun spots.
Sunburn is skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays from sun exposure. The skin becomes red, warm, sore and tender. It may start to flake and peel after a few days, and will usually fully heal within seven days.
Sunburn is usually mild and short-lived, but it’s important to take soothing measures to prevent further damage.
1. Stay out of the sun
Once you feel the sting of sunburn, immediately find a shady spot and cover your body. If you are at the beach or at a pool, sand, salt water and chlorine can aggravate the pain and maybe become a possible source of infection.
2. Cool it down
A cool shower or bath can soothe skin inflammation from sunburn. If you’re near a cold pool, lake or ocean, you should dip yourself in for a few seconds before finding shade.
But be careful not to overdo it as you don’t want to prolong your exposure to the sun. Continue to cool the burn with cold compresses such as ice.
Do not apply ice directly to the sunburn. Instead, apply a towel-wrapped ice pack to the affected area for five minutes. Re-apply a few times a day as needed.
3. Moisturise
After taking a shower or a bath, use a gentle moisturising lotion to seal the top layer of the skin, protecting it from infections and irritation.
Avoid fragranced products and choose a basic moisturiser that will protect and soothe the skin. Repeat to keep burned or peeling skin moist over the next few days.
4. Wear loose clothing
Loose clothing will be more comfortable for you throughout the recovery period. You should also remove any tight rings, bracelets or watches if your hands or arms are burned and swollen. Tight clothing can trigger painful blistering on skin that’s already damaged.
5. Hydrate
Sunburn draws fluids to the skin’s surface instead of the rest of the body. To compensate, drink plenty of water and other fluids to prevent dehydration.
6. Take medication
You can also reduce the inflammation by taking anti-inflammatory medications. It will not only reduce swelling and redness but also help you deal with the pain.
Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin may help. Once the swelling subsides, your skin cells can repair the sunburned skin’s barrier and generate new skin.
7. Protect the blisters
Second-degree burn can cause blisters. If blisters appear, don’t try to rupture or peel them. Keep them clean, dry, and bandaged or covered with gauze during the day.
You can remove the bandages and cover them lightly with gauze to give your skin some air and prevent the dressing from causing any itching or irritation. Apply an antibiotic ointment if skin breaks and then cover again with gauze.
8. Prevent further sun damage
While your sunburned skin is healing, it’s also important to protect it from further sun exposure.
This includes staying in the shade, wearing sun protective clothing, and most importantly, wearing sunscreen.
You should seek medical help if you have severe blistering over a large portion of the body, suffer from fever and chills, or if the blister is oozing pus which is a sign of infection.
This article first appeared in hellodoktor.com and was reviewed by The Hello Doktor Medical Panel. The Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.