7 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Sunburn

When you are spending your day at the beach, it is easy to forget the time and spend the whole day under the sun. When you get back to the cottage after a few hours, you notice your skin has become red and itchy. You also begin to feel some pain and warmth. It is only then that you realize you got sunburn. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal, sunburn is actually a cause for concern. Repeated sunburns can lead to skin cancer. If you are suffering from sunburn, you can just wait until the burned layers of skin are removed. But sunburn can be troublesome and annoying especially because of the pain that comes with it. To help relieve the discomfort, read the tips below on how to get rid of sunburn.

7 Ways to Get Rid of Sunburn Fast

1. Apply a cold compress or jump in a cool shower.

Immediately after finding out that you have sunburn, take a cool shower or apply a cold compress on the infected area. This will make your skin cool and numb the pain temporarily. However, the pain will inevitably come back after the skin warms up again. Because of this, you can apply a cold compress as often as necessary.

2. Use aloe gel.

Aloe vera has been used to treat various skin conditions for a number of years. It acts as a natural moisturizer and promotes skin regeneration. There are a lot of aloe vera gels available on the market. Apply the aloe gel on the sunburn and let it dry.

3. Moisturize your skin.

Burned skin screams for moisture. Use a gentle moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. You can also use antibacterial ointments to keep bacteria from infecting the damaged area. Make sure that you use treatments that do not contain ingredients that can irritate the skin. It is advisable to consult your doctor before using any over-the-counter treatment.

4. Drinky plenty of water.

When you have sunburn, your body is working hard to keep the skin hydrated and heal the sunburn. To help your body do its job efficiently, make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. This also ensures that you avoid dehydration. If you find it hard to drink a lot of water, you can eat fruits and drink juices.

5. Avoid sun exposure.

When you are trying to get rid of sunburn, further sun exposure wouldn’t help you at all. It is best to stay out of the sun if your sunburn is still healing. Your skin might get burned severely if exposed to the sun further.

6. Avoid further skin irritation.

It is easy to irritate a burned skin and this may lead to more serious complications. Avoid further skin irritation by wearing loose clothing and not touching your sunburn. Resist the urge of scratching the sunburn no matter how itchy it is. Just leave the skin untouched to treat the sunburn quickly.

7. Take painkillers.

If you can’t take the pain that accompanies the sunburn, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. This will offer quick pain relief but will not directly help in getting rid of sunburn.

How to Prevent Sunburn

• Limit sun exposure. Avoid going outside when the heat of the sun is very intense, generally between 10AM and 4PM.
• Wear appropriate gears. To minimize the harmful effects of the sun, wear protective gears when going outside such as sunglasses, hats, and long-sleeved clothes.
• Always wear sunscreen. Before you step out of your house, make sure that you wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
• Re-apply sunscreen. You need to reapply sunscreen every after a couple of hours to maintain your protection against the sun.

Around the web: