When, why and how to treat for sunburn.
Sunburn should be treated before it happens, when it might and after it does happen. This can be in winter or in summer, on land or on water, wherever direct sun or highly reflected light may reach and therefore threaten bare skin.
Sunburn should be treated for the healing of current sunburn pain, skin damage and potential skin cancer as well as to prevent further sunburn. Here are the several ways we may do this.
Use Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera comes from the aloe vera plant and may be squeezed from its leaves. Purchasing and learning to care for an Aloe Vera plant through the summer can be a wonderfully relieving investment. This healthful moisturizer is frequently used for sunburn and is applied to the affected areas of the skin as a rub to re-moisturize the dried and burnt surfaces. You can also purchase aloe vera creams and ointments that may include other moisturizers or treatments for dry or burned skin.
General Moisturizers.
A general skin moisturizer such as Noxzema can be applied to sun burned areas to cool and sooth the painfully itchy malady. Baby oil is a good moisturizer but don’t use it in the sun or it may help fry you further.
Anesthetics.
Anesthetics such as the popular skier’s treatment Cool Blue actually kill the pain of most sunburns for a time. This is applied to the skin in the form of a spray or gelatinized rub. It is also frequently mixed with Aloe Vera as sold. Aspirin dissolved in water in small doses may be tried directly applied to affected areas.
Other medications.
Unguentine is used to treat the ache and itchiness of sunburns. There are other brand name and store brand treatments you may want to ask your pharmacist about. Mycetracin or other multiple healing ointments may help to speed healing though you will want to ask your pharmacist to be sure.
A hot shower.
A hot shower immediately after mild sunburn can bring about peeling sooner and rid you quickly of discomfort.
Vitamins taken internally or applied.
Vitamin E, one of the antioxidants, can be taken regularly as part of a daily vitamin and mineral supplement or spread as in an ointment on sunburn. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that will help prevent severe damage from sunburn and shorten its effects. Selenium is a mineral that will help fight sunburn.
Preventing further sunburn while you heal.
To protect the eyes and the area around the eyes, try placing thin slices of fresh cucumber over closed eyelids when lounging in the sun. The cucumber will absorb all the ultraviolet light and keep the eyes safe and cool.
Sunscreens cannot be over recommended in my opinion. Being someone who is sensitive to light and burns readily I know that an SPF 8 or greater sunscreen rating is needed if you plan to only reapply it every two hours or less often, at least for those who need to be as concerned as I do.
