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Sunburns are totally preventable, but no one is perfect. Sometimes we just don't realize that we've been out for a while, and we forget to apply sunscreen, and soon someone says "hey, you're looking a little red." Oops!
If you do end up with one of these nasty burns, there are lots of ways to take care of it. The good news is, you don't really have to leave your home to get your skin feeling better!
- Use food sources. It may feel gross, but some foods are great for relieving the pain of a sunburn.
- Oatmeal wrapped in a washcloth or gauze and soaked in water makes a great compress. You can apply it to the affected area every few hours.
- Make cornstarch paste with cornstarch and water. You can apply this directly to your burn for relief.
- Boiling lettuce leaves in water and dipping cotton balls in the lettuce-infused water can be a great remedy.
- Don’t use harsh soaps. Instead, take a cool bath and use Aveeno or baking soda in it to relieve itching and pain.
- Use a compress. Cold water on a washcloth can work wonders for sunburn pain. Aluminum acetate and water on a cloth can be great, too. You can even just fan your affected areas with a small hand fan.
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- Take care of your skin. Aloe vera may actually help the healing. Hydrocortisone can also help the itching when the skin starts peeling. If you’re worried about infection, you can use a cream like Neosporin to ward that off.
- Stay hydrated! The best thing for a sunburn is to rehydrate the skin. Drink lots and lots of water, and eat foods with high water content, like melons and beets.
- Pay attention to the burn. If you start blistering, you may have a second or third degree burn. Don’t touch the blisters, let them go away on their own.
- Take care of yourself next time. Make sure that next time you know you’ll be out in the sun for a while, apply sunscreen for half an hour beforehand. Even if it’s overcast, if you’ll be out between noon and 3, apply sunscreen to all exposed parts. Choose a full-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen, so you’re protected from both UVA and UVB rays.
Sunburns are no fun at all, and the best you can do if they do happen is to take care of them as best as possible now and avoid them in the future.
