Treating a Sunburn

By Rosemary Verghese, MD

Mid-Atlantic Skin Surgery Institute

. https://midatlanticskinsurgery.com/

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Treating a Sunburn

While the summer weather is nice for outdoor activity, it also puts you at increased risk for sunburn.

If you do get a sunburn, it's important to begin treating it as soon as you notice it. The first step you should take is to get out of the sun and preferably indoors.

Once out of the sun, frequent cool baths or showers can help relieve the pain. As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry, but leave a little water on your skin.

Then, apply a moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin. This can help ease the dryness.

It is best to use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to help soothe sunburned skin.

If a particular area feels especially uncomfortable, you may want to apply a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription. Do not treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine), as these may irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

Taking an aspirin or ibuprofen can help reduce any swelling and redness. It can also help lessen any pain or discomfort.

Drinking extra water is also important. A sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking extra water when you are sunburned helps prevent dehydration.

If your skin blisters, allow the blisters to heal. Blistering skin means you have a second-degree sunburn. You should not pop the blisters, as blisters form to help your skin heal and protect you from infection. If your blisters do break, apply a topical antibiotic.

While your skin is healing, take extra care to protect it. You should wear clothing that covers your skin when outdoors to prevent additional sun damage. Tightly-woven fabrics work best. When you hold the fabric up to a bright light, you shouldn't see any light coming through.

Unfortunately, the first signs of sunburn can take two to three hours to appear, making it especially important to carefully monitor your skin during outdoor activities.

If you get sunburned and you have blisters that cover a large area, such as your entire back, or if you have chills, a headache, or a fever, you should seek medical care immediately.

Of course, the best way to treat a sunburn is to not get one in the first place. Anytime you plan to be outdoors and have your skin exposed to the sun, apply a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides broad-spectrum coverage.

Consistent and proper sunscreen use will help protect your skin from cancer and keep it looking younger.