Sunburns are quite frequent: in the United States alone about 42% of adults suffer at least one a year. They usually develop within a few hours after being excessively exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or artificial sources (sunbeds or tanning lamps). This type of sunburn is characterized by red and inflamed skin, which can be painful and hot to the touch. It can take several days for it to fade, and each episode increases the risk of suffering various skin problems, such as wrinkles, dark spots, rashes, and even cancers (melanoma). There are several natural methods of treating and relieving a sunburn at home, although medical attention is needed if the skin is severely damaged.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Get rid of the sunburn at home
Step 1. Take a cold bath
Your skin may start to look a little pink or inflamed when you are still at the beach or park, but the situation is likely to start to worsen afterwards, once you have been home for a few hours. Therefore, as soon as you start to notice that your skin has burned, apply a cold pack or take a cold bath or shower if a large area of the epidermis is inflamed. The low temperature of the water helps reduce inflammation and relieves the pain somewhat; in this way the skin absorbs water, an important aspect when you are burned, because the skin is dehydrated.
- Stay submerged for 15-20 minutes, making sure the water is cold but not too cold - you may feel better if you add ice to the water, but be careful as it could shock your body.
- Immediately after the sunburn, you should not use soap or scrub the skin to avoid irritating and / or drying it further.
Step 2. Apply aloe vera
The gel from this plant is probably the best known natural remedy for sunburn and other factors that inflame the skin. It is able not only to soothe the sunburn and reduce pain very effectively, but also to greatly speed up the healing process. Research has been reported in some scientific journals that found that applying aloe vera to some people with sunburn or other skin lesions allowed on average nearly 9 days faster healing than those who were not treated. with this remedy. Apply aloe vera several times a day during the first few days after sunburn to achieve significant results for the skin and to avoid excessive discomfort.
- If you have one of these plants in your garden, cut a leaf and apply the thick gel-like sap inside directly to the burned skin.
- Alternatively, you can purchase a package of pure aloe vera gel at the pharmacy. If you want better results, keep the gel in the refrigerator and apply it cold.
- There is conflicting evidence that aloe vera speeds up the healing process. In at least one research, in fact, it was proven that they slowed him down.
Step 3. Try the oatmeal
This is another natural remedy for relieving sunburn; acts quickly to reduce inflammation and itching. In some studies, oat extract has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve the painful sensation of sunburn. Make a slurry of oatmeal, chill it in the fridge for an hour or two, then apply it directly to sunburned skin and let it dry on its own. Rinse with cold water when finished, but be gentle as oatmeal has a slight exfoliating power and may further irritate the skin.
- Alternatively, you can buy finely chopped oatmeal (get colloidal oatmeal at drugstores) and add it to cold bath water before soaking.
- You can make finely chopped oats yourself by grinding 200g of instant or slow cooker flour in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder until it is fine and smooth.
- If you only have small patches of sunburned skin, you can put a handful of dried oatmeal in square gauze and soak it in cold water for a few minutes. Then apply this homemade compress to the sunburn for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours.
Step 4. Keep sunburned skin well hydrated
When the skin is burned, it loses its normal moisture, so another way to relieve discomfort and stimulate healing is to keep it well hydrated. After a cold bath or shower, spread a generous amount of moisturizing cream or lotion on the affected skin to prevent water evaporation. Repeat the application often throughout the day in order to make any flaking and flaking of the skin less visible. Choose natural creams that contain vitamins C and E, methylsulfonylmethane (or MSM, an organosulphuric compound), aloe vera, cucumber extract and / or calendula; all of these ingredients help soothe and repair skin damage.
- If the sunburn is particularly painful, consider applying a hydrocortisone cream. A low-dose product (less than 1%) can help quickly reduce pain and swelling.
- Do not apply creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine, as they can cause allergies in some people and aggravate the burn.
- Also, do not use butter, petroleum jelly, or other petrolatum products on sunburned skin, as these can clog pores and prevent heat and sweat from escaping and dissipating.
- Pain from sunburn tends to get worse within 6 to 48 hours after sun exposure.
Step 5. Stay well hydrated
Another way to keep sunburned skin hydrated is to drink plenty of fluids. For the duration of the burn (or at least in the first few days), drink more water, natural fruit juices or caffeine-free sports drinks to rehydrate your body and skin so that they begin to heal on their own. To start with, drink at least 8 8-ounce drinks (preferably water) a day. Remember that caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates urination, so you should avoid coffee, black tea, cola and energy drinks - at least in the initial sunburn phase.
- Since the burn draws fluids to the surface of the skin and draws them from the rest of the body, you must pay attention to the symptoms of dehydration: dry mouth, excessive thirst, reduced urination, dark colored urine, headache, dizziness and / or drowsiness.
- Young children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration (they have a larger skin area for their weight), so you should take them to the pediatrician if they look sick or behave strangely after a sunburn.
Step 6. Consider taking over-the-counter NSAIDs
In the case of moderate or severe sunburn, inflammation and swelling are a major problem, so you should take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as soon as you notice that the effects of the sun are damaging your skin. This class of drugs reduces the swelling and redness characteristic of sunburn and can prevent skin damage in the long run. Among the most common NSAIDs are ibuprofen (Oki, Brufen), naproxen (Momendol) and aspirin, but be careful as they can harm the stomach; so take them with food and don't take them for more than two weeks. Paracetamol (Tachipirina) is another pain reliever that can relieve sunburn pain but does not reduce inflammation or swelling.
- Look for creams, lotions, or gels containing the active ingredients of NSAIDs or pain relievers. In this way the drug acts more quickly and directly on the skin.
- Keep in mind that ibuprofen and aspirin are not suitable for young children; consult your doctor before giving them these drugs.
Step 7. Protect yourself from further damage to your skin
Prevention is always the first line of defense against sunburn. I know many things you can do to protect yourself from sunburn, including: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30; reapply the protection every two hours; wear protective clothing made of tight mesh, long-sleeved shirts, hats, sunglasses and avoid exposure to the sun during peak hours (usually between 10.00 and 16.00).
A person with fair skin can get burned by exposing themselves to the sun even for less than 15 minutes around noon, while if they have a darker complexion they can stay there for a few hours without problems
Part 2 of 2: Knowing When to See a Doctor
Step 1. Know when to see your doctor
Most sunburns are classified as first degree burns, so they can be treated at home by following the tips described in the first part of this tutorial and avoiding further exposure to the sun. However, excessive exposure to sunlight can cause a second or third degree burn: in this case it is necessary to undergo medical treatment. Second-degree sunburns are characterized by blistering and a moist appearance of the skin, redness and damage all over the epidermis and upper layer of the dermis. In those of the third degree the skin flakes and appears dry, dark red or bruised; in this case the whole epidermis and most of the dermis are destroyed. In addition, the sense of touch is greatly lost.
- Second-degree sunburns heal on average within 10-21 days and usually leave no scars. Third degree ones often require skin transplants and always leave scars.
- You should also see your doctor if you have symptoms of dehydration (described above) or heat stroke (sweating, tiredness, tiredness, weak but rapid heartbeat, hypotension and headache).
- For children, as a general guideline, you should see your doctor if sunburn blisters cover 20% or more of the body (for example, the entire back).
Step 2. Treat blisters properly
When sunburn is moderate or severe it usually causes blisters on the skin, which are a natural reaction of the body to defend itself. If you notice blisters forming on burnt skin, you shouldn't squeeze or break them, as they contain a body fluid (serum) and form a protective layer over the burn. Furthermore, when the blisters rupture, the risk of infections also increases. If the burn is mild and there are few blisters in accessible areas of the body (such as the forearms) you can simply cover them with dry, absorbent bandages. However, if you have a lot of them and they are on your back or on other parts of your body that are difficult to reach, a doctor's intervention is necessary so that he can treat them. He will likely apply an antibiotic ointment and adequately cover the blisters with sterile bandages to limit the risk of infections, minimize the chances of scarring and promote healing.
- Change the bandage 1-2 times a day (if the area is accessible), but be cautious when removing it to avoid doing further damage. You must change it immediately even if it gets wet or dirty accidentally.
- When the blister breaks, you need to apply antibiotic ointment to the area and cover it with another clean bandage without over-tightening.
- One or more blistering sunburns in children or adolescents doubles the risk of developing melanoma (a form of cancer) later in life.
Step 3. Consider applying silver sulfadiazine cream
If the burn is particularly severe, causing blistering and peeling of the skin, your doctor will be able to indicate and prescribe this type of treatment (Sofargen 1%). Silver sulfadiazine is a powerful antibiotic that kills bacteria and other potential infectious agents on burned skin. It is usually applied once or twice a day, but should not be placed on the face as it can make the skin gray. When applying the cream, wear gloves and only apply a thin layer of it, but first make sure to remove any residue of dead or flaking skin. In the end, always cover it with a sterile bandage.
- A colloidal silver solution, which you can buy at major health food stores or that you can make right at home, is a great antibiotic and is much less expensive and problematic than silver sulfadiazine cream. Pour the colloidal silver into a sterile spray bottle and spray it directly on the burned skin, then let it dry before covering the skin with bandages.
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If your doctor thinks it's very likely that an infection could spread, they might prescribe you a short course of oral antibiotics. Keep in mind that some antibiotics can cause increased sensitivity to sun exposure, thus increasing the risk of you getting burned again - make sure you stay in the shade.
If the sunburn is severe enough, your doctor may recommend longer oral steroid therapy to help combat inflammation and pain
Advice
- Do not expose yourself to the sun if it is not necessary. Stay in the shade during peak midday hours and wear gloves, sunglasses, and a lip balm to protect your skin from UV rays when you go outside.
- Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you go out in the sun.
- Stay under an umbrella when you want to enjoy a nice day outdoors, even if the sky is cloudy.
- Exfoliate your skin once the sunburn has healed. Use an alpha hydroxy acid cleanser and pat your skin lightly. This exfoliation process can stimulate the growth of new cells while eliminating those that are dead or dying from the burn.
