Stay Hydrated After Sunburn

Stay Hydrated After Sunburn

Unprotected sun exposure is a key contributor to skin damage, premature aging, and even skin cancer. But let’s face it, even those of us who take every precaution to protect our skin against the harmful UVA and UVB rays can sometimes mess up. And when we get a sunburn, we sure do pay the price.

So, if you forgot to take cover in the shade, didn’t wear your sunscreen or simply forgot to reapply after a quick dip in the pool, I have a few tips to help calm your skin. And remember, for any serious burn, seek medical attention.

Stay Hydrated After Sunburn

Tips to Help Soothe Sunburn

Manage pain

With most sunburn comes pain and inflammation. Taking an over the counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can definitely help with the discomfort. Always take medication as directed on the label, and discontinue use if you have any issues.

Stay hydrated

When your skin is fried, it’s also diminished in the moisture it needs to function at its best. Replenish your entire body with water during this time. When your body is hydrated, it will help to soothe sunburn and heal faster. So, drink up. This is also a good time to nourish and hydrate the skin’s surface to keep it from becoming dry, more irritated and itchy.

Loosen up

Depending on the location and severity of your sunburn, try to avoid any tight clothing. The straps on your bathing suit, the waistband on your pants and even the collar on your shirt can become major causes of irritation. So, as soon as you can, take off your clothes to prevent any unnecessary tightness or rubbing of your sunburned skin. If you can stay unclothed, then go for it. If you can’t, cover up with loose-fitting, lightweight clothing to avoid the pain.

Use an anti-irritant

There is no substitute for a true anti-irritant product. Look for a product that lists among its indications treatment of sunburn and skin irritation. These products are formulated to address the symptoms of sunburn and in the U.S.A. are over-the-counter drugs. Sunburn is a medical condition that should be treated properly.

Stay Hydrated After Sunburn

Cooldown

If your body feels like it’s on fire after getting sunburned, then take a moment to cool down. Take a cool shower or bath to help alleviate the discomfort and keep your overall body temperature from rising. Avoid washcloths, as they can feel like coarse sandpaper gnawing at your skin. If you can, forget about using soap. Some harsh cleansers and fragrances in your bar soap or shower gel can aggravate your already irritated skin.

Don’t linger too long in the tub. If you soak for too long, chances are your skin will become dryer and more irritated. Remember, dry skin leads to itching, and scratching a sunburn leads to pain!

If you don’t have access to a cool shower or bath right away, then try spraying your skin with cold water or applying cold compresses.

No one wants to derail his or her summer plans because of sunburn. Go out and enjoy. Just remember to stay covered up and in the shade, wear an SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. If your skin starts to get red, remove yourself from the sun. Hey, there are a lot of indoor activities that are fun, too. Think movies, bowling, mani-pedi and my favorite—shopping.