Sunburn can be incredibly painful and occurs when our skin is damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunburn typically causes our skin to become tender, sore, warm, red and in some cases it can become incredibly itchy. After being burnt, our skin will start its healing process almost immediately, which can cause skin to peel or flake within a few days of being burnt, however it can take over seven days for skin to recover completely. While sunburn is often considered as an embarrassing inconvenience for many individuals, it’s best to be avoided as it can significantly increase your chances of developing unnecessary health problems, that can later develop into such diseases as skin cancer.
What should you do if you are sunburnt?
Be sure to act fast
If you sense that your skin may be burning either through a tingling or hot sensation, it’s time to hit the shade for awhile and begin treating what could be a nasty sunburn. Sunburn is known for sneaking up on us and it can take up to 4 – 6 hours for any signs of sunburn to develop so keep a watchful eye out!
Keep your skin well moisturised
After a day in the sun, a cool shower or bath is recommended, and once you hop out, it’s time to slather on the moisturising lotion or cream to soothe your skin. Aloe vera is highly recommended to soothe any burning or tender patches of skin that may have become burnt. Moisturising also helps to reduce dry skin, flaking or peeling during the healing process. If you feel the sensation of sunburn do not scrub, itch, pick, peel or break any blisters!
Keep yourself well hydrated
Burnt skin draws fluid to our skin’s surface and away from the important parts of our body. With this in mind, it’s essential that you take the time to keep yourself topped up with water and hydrated.
Be prepared with medication if needed
If you, a family or friend is experiencing pain from sunburn, it’s recommended to provide them with a dose of ibuprofen as soon as symptoms occur. This can help reduce swelling and redness and may even help to prevent long-term skin damage.
Identify how bad your burn is
Nearly all levels of sunburn can be easily treated at home without the intervention of a medical professional. However, if the sunburn is covering over 20% of a person’s body, it’s highly recommended that you seek medical advice. If you are suffering from sunburn but are also feeling a chill or fever, you should check in with your doctor immediately.
Who is at risk of sunburn?
Each and every one of us who is exposed to some form of UV light is at risk of being sunburnt. You will be at far greater risk of sunburn if you are exposed to intense levels of sun on the rare occasion or are in a warm country where there can be stronger levels of UV rays.
Don’t forget, even in colder climates you can be susceptible to sunburn, as water, ice and snow are capable of reflecting the sun’s UV rays onto your skin. Babies and young children are also much more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays, which means extra care should be taken in order to protect their delicate skin.
So in conclusion, it’s better to be safe than sorry……be sure to wear sunscreen so the sun doesn’t get the better of you.
Picture credit – Marlys Wasson via Pinterest