Have you recently gotten some sun? Most of the time when I am out in the sun, I am having too much fun to be thinking about a sunburn. It's once I get home...look in the mirror....and YIKES!!! I know I am going to hurt for a minute!
If this has happened to you, there are certain steps you can take immediately after a sunburn:
- Cool the skin with cold compresses. This will help any pain and stinging.
- Take a cool shower. If you like bathes, take a cool bath sprinkling baking soda, oatmeal, or cornstarch into the tub. These three ingredients will help soothe the burnt skin.
- After you dry off, apply a topical anti-inflammatory solution (calamine lotion, Aloe Vera - my favorite, or hydrocortisone cream, as they're help heal the sunburn quicker).
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or aspirin. These stop "prostaglandins" which is the mediators of sunburn so they help calm any redness or pain associated with the burn.
- Definitely re-hydrate the skin! Sunburns draw moisture to the skin's surface away from the rest of the body. I am currently LOVING Silk Hydration After Sun Lotion by Hawaiian Tropic. It smells toooo amazing.
- The most important step is to AVOID THE SUN. However sometimes it's unavoidable, so if you have to be in it, apply a sunscreen that contains both a UVB and UVA filter (and remember to reapply!).
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