Common Sense Suggestions For How To Heal Sunburn

The sun worshippers of today tend to be more careful when it comes to overexposure to the sun's harmful rays than previous generations were. Sunscreen and hats are more prevalent on the beach than they used to be. Sunburns can happen however, and if you are beginning to feel the burn from too much sun and not enough protections, experts have good advice for how to heal sunburn.

Even bad burns can mislead you. You might think your skin is just turning pink when it is actually already burned and will get worse before it gets better. You need to get inside as soon as possible at the first sign of color. Taking a cool shower is one of the best things you can do to ease the pain. A mixture of cold water and baking soda pressed into a washcloth is soothing.

Creams can be effective, but a lot of sufferers turn to them too soon. Aloe and hydrocortisone are good, but you don't want to apply them until your skin is beginning to heal. Once it gets to the itchy stage, the creams can be very soothing. If you have a severe burn, your doctor may recommend prescription creams.

There are a lot of natural remedies you can try that many people swear are extremely helpful and soothing. Cucumbers are full of analgesics and antioxidants. Mashing chilled cucumbers into a paste will give you some relief. Tea bags are great for a lot of things, including sunburns. Tea has tannic acids that can draw out the heat and restore the PH. You can also try cider vinegar added to your bath water.

You know you have second degree burns when the skin actually blisters. This can become serious. Infection is a real possibility. Dry bandages over the blisters will help prevent infection. Popping blisters can cause raw skin and invite infection. It also slows down the healing process.

Infection is a possibility with any kind of burn. You need to pay attention if you run a fever, see discharge oozing from blisters or if the pain gets worse instead of better. Any of these symptoms are probably worth a trip to the walk-in clinic, or even the emergency room if the fever and pain warrant it.

People make a lot of common mistakes when dealing with sunburns. Petroleum jelly and butter are not good for this condition, and can make it worse. Harsh soaps will dry out your skin. All of these will make the healing process more difficult and prolonged. Over the counter medications can be effective, but you have to be careful about reading the labels before you use them.

It's a lot of fun to go to the beach or the pool in the summer. The combination of sun, water, and heat can be very relaxing. You have to be careful that you don't overdo however, and end up with a painful reminder of your outdoor excursion.