Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: How to get rid of sunburn at home
• Part 2 of 2: Knowing when to see the doctor
• Tips

Sunburn is common, with about 42% of American adults reporting at least one incident per year. These figures are not available in the Netherlands. It usually develops within a few hours of being exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation, either from the sun or from artificial sources (tanning beds). Sunburn can be recognized by the red burnt skin that is painful and warm to the touch. It may take a few days to go away and any case of sunburn increases your risk of various skin problems such as wrinkles, dark spots, rashes and skin cancer (melanoma). There are several natural ways to treat and soothe a sunburn at home, although medical attention may be needed if your skin is really damaged.

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Part 1 of 2: How to get rid of sunburn at home

1. Take a cool bath. Your skin may look a little rosy or heated while you are still at the beach or in the park, but you will probably see and feel that it has gotten a lot worse by the time you get home a few hours later. Therefore, as soon as you see and feel sunburnt skin, put a cool compress on your skin, or take a cool bath or shower if your skin is burned. The cool temperature of the water will help you fight burning and relieve the pain a bit. Your skin will also absorb some water, which is important for sunburnt skin due to being dehydrated.
   • Soak for 15-20 minutes, making sure the water is cool, but not too cold - adding ice to the bath can feel pretty good, but it can cause your body to go into shock.
   • Do not use soap or scrub on your skin immediately after the sunburn - it can irritate and / or dry out the skin further.
   • Someone with very fair skin often takes less than 15 minutes of sun exposure in the afternoon to burn, while a person with darker skin can tolerate the same amount of sun for hours.
2. Apply aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is probably the most popular herbal remedy for sunburn and other causes of burned skin. Aloe vera has a tremendous ability to not only soothe sunburn and reduce pain, but it also speeds up the healing process. In a scientific review of the literature, researchers found that people with sunburns and other skin injuries treated with aloe vera were cured an average of 9 days earlier than those not treated with the plant. Applying aloe vera several times a day for the first few days after a sunburn can have a big effect on your skin and prevent a lot of discomfort.
   • If you have a real aloe vera plant in your home or garden, break off a leaf and apply the thick gel / juice in it directly to your sunburnt skin.
   • Alternatively, you can purchase a bottle of pure aloe vera gel from a health store or pharmacy. For best effect, put the gel in the refrigerator and apply when cool.
3. Try oatmeal. Oatmeal is another natural remedy for soothing sunburn. It works quickly to reduce heating and itching. Studies have shown that oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties, which help soothe sunburnt skin. For that reason, make a liquid batch with oatmeal, let it cool for two hours in the refrigerator, then apply directly to the sunburnt skin and let it dry. Rinse it off with cool water, but do so gently as oatmeal is also a mild exfoliator and you don't want to irritate the skin further.
   • Alternatively, you can buy finely ground oatmeal (sold in drugstores as colloidal oats) and mix it generously with cool water in the tub before stepping into it yourself.
   • You can also make your own finely ground oats by grinding a cup of oatmeal (instant or traditional) in a blender, food processor or coffee grinder until it has a smooth, fine consistency.
   • For smaller sunburned areas, you can put a handful of dry oatmeal in a gauze pad and soak it in cold water for a few minutes. Then put this homemade compress on the burn for 20 minutes. Repeat this every few hours.
4. Keep burnt skin well hydrated. Sunburnt skin does not have the hydration of normal skin, so another way to soften it and encourage healing is to keep it well hydrated. After a cool shower or bath, apply an excessive amount of moisturizer or lotion to sunburnt skin to prevent the water from dissolving again. Repeat this application regularly throughout the day to make any peeling and flaking less visible. Look for natural moisturizers that contain vitamins C and E, MSM, aloe vera, cucumber extract and / or calendula - all of which help to soften and heal damaged skin.
   • If the sunburn is particularly painful, consider using hydrocortisone cream. A cream with a low dose (less than 1%) of hydrocortisone is good for quickly reducing pain and swelling.
   • Do not use creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine - in some people these can cause allergies and make sunburn worse.
   • Furthermore, don't use butter, Vaseline or other oil-based products on sunburnt skin - they can clog your pores and prevent heat and sweat from getting out.
   • Usually, the pain from sunburn is at its worst between 6-48 hours after exposure to the sun.
5. Keep yourself well hydrated. Another way to keep your sunburnt skin hydrated is to drink plenty of fluids. During your sunburn (at least for the first few days), drink extra water, natural fruit juice and / or caffeine-free sports drinks so that your body and skin can be rehydrated and begin to heal itself. Start with at least 8 glasses of water (preferably purified water) per day. Keep in mind that caffeine is diuretic and makes you urinate more often, so avoid coffee, black tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks during the early stages of sunburn.
   • Because sunburn draws moisture to the surface of the skin and removes it from the rest of your body, you need to stay alert for symptoms of dehydration: dry mouth, excessive thirst, decreased urination, dark-colored urine, headache, dizziness, and / or drowsiness.
   • Small children are especially vulnerable to dehydration (more skin surface compared to their weight), so contact your doctor if they appear ill or behave strangely after being sunburnt.
6. Think about over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs). Inflammation and swelling are a major problem with moderate to severe sunburn, so taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) shortly after discovering the sun damage is also a good strategy. NSAIDs reduce the swelling and redness that are characteristic of sunburn and can prevent some of the long-term skin damage. Common NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin, but they can be bad for your stomach, so take them with food and limit use to less than two weeks. Acetaminophen (acetaminophen) and other pain relievers can help with the pain of the sunburn, but they have no effect on inflammation and swelling.
   • Look for creams, lotions, or gels that contain NSAIDs or painkillers - it's a faster and more direct method of getting the medication into your skin.
   • Keep in mind that aspirin and ibuprofen are not suitable for young children, so talk to your doctor before using or giving any medication to your children.
7. Protect yourself from further burning. Prevention is always better when it comes to sunburn. There are many things you can do to protect yourself, such as applying a 30+ sunscreen, reapplying every hour, and wearing covering clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and sunglasses. Avoid the sun at the hottest part of the day, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Part 2 of 2: Knowing when to see the doctor

1. Know when to see the doctor. Most cases of sunburn are classified as first-degree burns, which can be treated at home with the advice outlined above, and you should stay out of the sun for a while. However, extreme sun exposure can also cause second and third degree burns that require medical attention and treatment. Second-degree sunburn can be recognized by blisters and wet-looking skin, redness and damage to the entire epidermis and upper layers of the dermis. Third degree sunburn can be recognized by skin peeling and dry looking, dark red or ashy, and destruction of the entire epidermis and most of the dermis. The sensation in the skin is usually reduced with third degree burns.
   • Second-degree sunburn heals in 10-21 days, usually without scarring. Third degree sunburns often require skin grafting to heal and always leave scars.
   • Other reasons for going to the doctor after a sunburn are symptoms of dehydration (see above) or heat stroke (heavy sweating, fainting, fatigue, weak but fast pulse, low blood pressure, and headache).
   • In children, as a general guideline, you should seek medical attention if a blistering sunburn affects 20% or more of their body (a child's entire back, for example).
2. Get your blisters treated properly. Moderate to severe sunburns usually also include blistering, which is your body's natural protective response. If you notice blisters forming on your sunburnt skin, don't pick or break them. Blisters contain your natural body fluid (serum) and form a protective layer over the burned skin. Breaking blisters also increases the risk of infection. If you have minimal blistering on accessible body parts (like your forearms, for example), cover them with dry, absorbent bandages. However, if you have a lot of blistering and it is on your back or other hard to inaccessible places, let your doctor take care of them. Your doctor will likely apply some antibiotic cream and cover the blisters well with sterile gauze to reduce the risk of infection, minimize scarring, and promote healing.
   • Change the dressing 1-2 times a day (if reachable), but remove carefully to minimize further damage. Replace the dressing immediately if it accidentally gets wet or dirty.
   • If the blisters do break open, apply an antibiotic ointment to the area and cover it loosely with a new clean bandage.
   • One or more blistering sunburns in youth or teen years doubles the risk of developing melanomas (a form of skin cancer) later in life.
3. Consider silver sulfadiazine cream. If your sunburn is particularly severe and includes blistering and peeling of the skin, your doctor may recommend and prescribe silver sulfadiazine cream (Thermazene 1%). Silver sulfadiazine is a powerful antibiotic that kills bacteria and other potentially infectious agents on burned skin. It is usually applied once or twice a day, but do not use it on the face as it can cause a greyish discoloration of the skin. When applying the cream, use gloves and apply a thick coat, but make sure to remove any dead and flaking skin first. Always keep the silver sulfadiazine cream covered with sterile bandages.
   • A colloidal silver solution, which can be purchased at many health stores or made at home, is also a powerful antibiotic and much less expensive and problematic than silver sulfadiazine cream. Pour some colloidal silver into a sterile spray bottle and mist it over your burned skin, then let it dry before applying a bandage.
   • If your doctor thinks you are at high risk of widespread infection from your severe sunburn, he or she may prescribe a short course of antibiotics to be on the safe side.

Tips

• Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. Stay out of the sun during the hottest midday hours and wear sun hats, sunglasses and lip balm to protect your skin from UV rays when you go outside.
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a factor of SPF 30 or higher when in the sun.
• Sit under an umbrella when enjoying the outdoors, even when it's cloudy.
• Exfoliate once the sunburn has healed. Use an over-the-counter alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cleanser and a light exfoliating pad. The process of exfoliating your skin can stimulate the growth of new cells while at the same time removing dead or dying cells damaged by the burn.