Skip to main content

Sunburn Relief

Even when you wear sunscreen, sometimes the inevitable happens and you get the dreaded sunburn...

So what should you do?
I have a few suggestions of the best way to be as comfortable as possible while you recover!

1.) Pain Reliever
First things first, as soon as you discover your sunburn head to the medicine cabinet and take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen or Advil. These are anti-inflammatory medications which will help to reduce swelling and pressure from the sunburn, which will relive some of the pain.

2.) Hydrate
The second most helpful thing you can possibly do is drink water! The sun has sucked all of the moisture from your skin, and it is literally begging for you to replenish it. Try to drink just water, since it is better for you and more hydrating than juice or sodas.

3.) Take a Bath
Try to limit yourself to no more that 30 minutes, but that thirty minutes can do wonders for your skin! Use cool water, not hot because it sucks misture from your skin, and not cold because it can send your body into shock, just... cool :) For added benefits you could add a few heaping tablespoons of Baking Soda to your bath. It will cool down your skin and help it to retain moisture. Another option is to add 1/2-1 cup of oatmeal ground into a fine powder to your bath. It can speed up the healing of the burn and reduce the itch that comes with it. No matter what you do, resist the urge to add bubble bath, bath salts, oils, or bombs since they can further irritate your skin. And remember to pat dry when you get out of the bath!
4.) Aloe
I could go on and on about the benefits of the Aloe Vera plant, but a huge one that is going to help you right now is the effects it can have on a sunburn. It has many cooling properties, and can make your skin feel very soother and hydrated. You can use it squeezed straight from the leaves of the plant, or buy the gel from a drugstore (you can buy it most places fairly cheap).

5.) Moisturize
When you have a sunburn, you need to moisturize and keep your skin hydrated so your don't peel like a snake. But please, please, please resist the urge to apply a moisturizer 50 times a day... When you do this it it like putting on a winter coat in the middle of summer, all it does is hold in the heat. And when you hold in all of that heat and don't let your skin breath, it raises your internal body temperature which makes you even more uncomfortable. Find a happy medium. Maybe try, when you wake up in the morning, after your shower/bath, before bed, and as needed if your skin is feeling extremely dry.

6.) Wear loose Clothing
This is a huge deal, especially for girls. You need to resist the urge to squeeze into those skinny jeans with your burnt thighs, and wear that super tight tank-top with the straps that will rub your fried shoulders raw. Doesn't sound very comfortable does it? You can look just as cute in cargo shorts and V-neck t-shirt, all a long necklace of you want to spice it up a little more :) But then their are those pesky bra straps... If there is absolutely no way you can get around the tight straps, dust a little cornstarch or baby powder onto the burn before you get dressed. It works almost like a lubricant so the clothes won't stick to your body.

7.) Limit Sun Exposure
This might be one of the most important tips I can give you. When you have a sunburn, exposing it to more sun is about the worst possible thing you can do. Now, I will admit that I have done it myself. Sometimes it just can't be helped. If you are on a beach vacation see if you can take a break for the day. Find inside activities in your area, such as an aquarium or have a day of shopping. It will amaze you what just one day out of the sun can do for how you feel! If you insist on still going out in the sun, remember to apply sunscreen and re-apply often. Wear a cover over your bathing suit if you are taking a walk or doing activities out of the water, and (if possible) sit in the shade or under an umbrella while reading or resting.

**Remember that these tips are for someone who has a mild sunburn with NO blistering. If your skin blisters consult a doctor, nurse, or (at the very least) your mother before trying any home remedies.**
The best possible thing you can do is get plenty of sleep and drink lots of water to boost your immune system and help your burn heal faster. Their is no way to completely cure a sunburn but these are just a few ways to help it heal faster and make you more comfortable while your body is doing what it does best!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What's in my... Toiletry Roll

I would just like to let you all know that I am packing for a twelve day trip, so for some of you this might not be enough, for some it may be to much. It all depends on personal preference and this is what I have found works for me! I would also like you to know that we are going to be driving everywhere on this vacation, so to an extent I don't have to worry about how much I pack or the sizes of my products. This is my Toiletry Roll  that I hang on the back of the door in the bathroom wherever we are staying. I am going to go through pocket by pocket and show you what I am bringing. In the Top Pocket I have mostly random things. I have Band-aids for small cuts and blisters Q-Tips Safety Pins, in case a strap breaks or something And the brown thing on the left side is a bra clip for razor back tank tops In the Second Pocket  I have skincare things Hawaiian Tropic Clear Sense Sunscreen SPF 4 Travel pack of equate Makeup Remover Wipes And in...

Beach Bags

Ok so new update on how to pack a beach bag. But Warning before hand! The way my family packs for the beach it takes three regular sized people and a seven year old to carr y! I'm going to beak this down into the separate bags that we carry. My Bag My personal Sunscreen, such as your facial sunscreen. This would also be the category for tanning lotions and oils. Two towels. One to lay on or put in your chair, and one to wrap up in or wipe out your eyes. My beach mat! It is straw with pink edges it rolls up perfectly and fits in my bag. I got mine at Target but IDK if they still sell them or not, try  www.windycitynovelties.com/straw-beach-mats Plastic Bags or Sandwich bags to put pretty seashells in! A Book or a Magazine, or both!  The Christy Miller Series , like I've suggested at the bottom of the page,  by Robin Jones Gunn is a good beach read mainly because they take place on a beach! A Camera, this is my absolute best friend...

Best Beach Ever!

So... I am debating on if I should even share this with you because it is so amazing! This is the most absolutely amazing beach I have ever been to in my life! It is Emerald Isle NC it is perfect!  So in my mind it is so perfect because: It is on the beautiful coast of North Carolina (which is where I live, and where I love!) It's name is Emerald ISLE so its on a cute little island (Duh!), at some places o the island you can see the Bogue Sound (yes this is a body of water, and yes this is a real place) and the Atlantic Ocean on the other It is a quite little town so everyone if friendly, and the beaches are never crowded There is a nice little aquarium just up the island a bit The is a little shopping center called Emerald Plantations that includes a movie theater , restaurants, shops, and a river where you can feed Sea Turtles (this is especially fun because there's one that is bigger than my six year old brother! It lives at the bottom and only comes up occasiona...