4 Tips for Healing Your Sunburn
Try as we might to prevent things like sun damage and sunburn, it happens to even the most prepared of us. And when sunburn does happen, it’s important to understand the best way to heal it. Here are a few tips to help you heal your sunburn.
Bathe Frequently in Cold Water
Cold showers already feel amazing after a long day outside in the summer sun. But when you have sunburn, bathing with cold water can provide an extra sense of relief from the burning sensation of your sun damaged skin. Frequent cool or cold showers are a great way to relieve sunburn discomfort, but they may also dry out your skin. When you get out of a cold shower, make sure to gently pat your skin dry instead of rubbing the rough towel against it. This will help minimize the level of discomfort that comes with drying off your skin after a shower or bath.
In addition, you should make sure you’re moisturizing thoroughly after every bath or shower you take. Keeping as much moisture in your skin as possible is important when you have a sunburn.
Use a Moisturizer with Soy or Aloe Vera
As we mentioned above, moisturizing when you’re suffering from a sunburn is incredibly important. But when you’re experiencing a burning or itching sensation, a normal moisturizer might not cut it. That’s why it’s recommended to use a moisturizer with soy or aloe vera in it. These ingredients can help soothe irritated skin and minimize the discomfort you’re feeling as a result of your sunburn. If there’s an area of your skin that feels particularly irritated, it’s worth it to consider using an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream on that area. Any kind of topical cream that can moisturize and soothe your irritation is going to be an excellent option to help you heal your sunburn.
Stay Hydrated
When your skin is damaged by the sun in the form of a sunburn, moisture is drawn to that area. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away from other areas of the body that need it. So even if you only have a minor sunburn, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. The truth is that even a minor sunburn has the ability to dehydrate you. So however much water you normally drink in a day, make sure you’re drinking extra after you suffer a sunburn. Not only will it help keep you hydrated, but it will also help your skin heal at a faster rate.
Protect Your Skin
After you sustain a sunburn, it’s important to take extra precautions when it comes to protecting the sunburned parts of your body. If you would normally wear sunscreen while you’re outside, use a higher SPF and consider wearing clothing that covers your sun damaged skin. A wide-brimmed hat is also an excellent extra protective measure to take to protect your sunburnt skin.
Spending time outside is one of the best parts of summer. Yours shouldn’t be ruined by a single sunburn! If you have questions about sun damage this season or skin care for sun damaged skin, contact us to set up an appointment at Dermatology of Cape Cod today.