Caring For Sunburnt Skin
Following a skincare regime that is suitable for the summertime is important in order to protect your skin from the sun. However, sometimes you may still find that you become sunburned.
The summer often brings lovely warm, sunshine-filled days. It is important to use a strong and effective SPF when out and about in the sunshine to prevent sun damage to your skin, but sometimes we can still get burnt.
This can be painful and irritating so caring for your sunburnt skin properly is important to allow it to heal. There are many ways you can soothe and care for sunburn.
One way to ease the pain and discomfort of sunburn is to cool the area down. Taking a cold bath or shower or using a cold compress can help to reduce the temperature of the skin and ease the burning.
Using light, floaty clothing can also minimise discomfort. If your sunburn is on your face or neck, tying your hair back and avoiding wearing any jewellery which may rub against the skin can also help to reduce the pain.
Sunburned skin can get very dry and irritated, so it is important that you moisturise well to keep your skin as hydrated as possible. Aloe Vera is a great choice as it can help to soothe and heal the skin.
By moisturising you can also help to stop your skin from cracking and peeling which can be uncomfortable to deal with. If your skin does start to peel, using a gentle washcloth in the bath or shower to remove the skin can help to prevent it from flaking off.
Drinking a lot of water will also help to hydrate the skin. Dehydration can worsen sunburn, so it is important that you and your skin stay as hydrated as possible.
Try to avoid hot baths or showers. Not only can this be painful, but hot water can also often further dry your skin out as it draws the natural oils from your skin. Cool water will help to soothe as well as keep the skin hydrated.
If your sunburn is uncomfortably painful, you can take pain relief in order to minimise the discomfort. Exposure to the sun can also cause heatstroke which can leave you feeling nauseous and give you a headache.
Staying out of direct sunlight until your burn starts to heal is the best way to avoid further damaging your skin. If you do need to go out in the sun again, make sure you apply a strong SPF, cover up as much as possible and wear a hat.
A natural SPF moisturiser is a great choice as it will help to lock in moisture as well as protect your skin. You should reapply this as directed to ensure it is as effective as possible and to reduce the risk of burning more.
If your burn is very severe and you are experiencing extreme blistering, pain and a fever you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Leave a comment