Everyone has happened to be sunburned. Usually, this is little more than a nuisance - the area becomes red, sore, and peels off. Responsible for sunburn is ultraviolet radiation, which can affect your skin for many reasons, from sun exposure to artificial tanning treatments. UV rays can directly damage DNA, causing inflammation and death of skin cells. Controlled exposure to the sun for short periods of time can give you a nice tan (increased skin pigmentation to protect you from ultraviolet radiation), but ultraviolet rays are dangerous for all skin types and should be avoided to prevent serious skin problems. health, such as skin cancer. A blister that appears following a sunburn indicates that the skin has been damaged. It is very important to adopt adequate treatment for the cure of these blisters.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Treating a Sunburn
Step 1. Avoid sunlight
Do not further damage the already affected skin. If you have to go out during the day, wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin. To some extent, UV rays can pass through clothing.
- Keep using sunscreen even after your blister has healed.
- Don't be fooled by cloudy weather or cold temperatures. However, UV rays are very strong when the sky is overcast and snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun's rays. If it's daylight, the UV rays hit you.
Step 2. Do not touch the affected area
Do not open the blisters. They may open on their own, but you should protect them as much as possible to prevent infections and damage to the more delicate layers of the skin. If a blister opens on its own, cover it with gauze to prevent infections. If you think your skin is already infected, see a dermatologist right away. Some of the symptoms of an infection include redness, swelling, pain, and a feeling of heat.
Also avoid peeling. The burned area may flake on its own, but you don't tear the skin. Remember, the area is very sensitive and vulnerable to infections and other injuries. Leave her alone
Step 3. Use aloe vera
Aloe vera is an effective natural remedy for minor burns such as sunburn. Aloe vera-based gel is the best solution, because it cools the burned area. This plant is believed to relieve pain, rehydrate affected skin, and promote healing. In fact, scientific research has shown that aloe vera helps burns heal faster (on average 9 days earlier).
- The best products are natural ones without additives. In many pharmacies you can find aloe vera gel without preservatives. If you have an aloe vera plant available, you can extract the gel directly by breaking a leaf in half. Let it absorb into the skin and repeat the treatment as often as possible.
- Try using aloe ice cubes. They help relieve pain and heal the skin.
- You should never apply aloe vera to an open wound.
Step 4. Try other emollients
Moisturizers can be applied to your blisters without risk. They help hide flaking and relieve pain. Avoid using too thick creams or petroleum jelly, which do not let the skin "breathe" and prevent heat exchanges in the area.
- Try soy-based moisturizers. Check that all the ingredients are natural and organic. Soy is a plant with natural moisturizing properties, which helps damaged skin to heal and stay hydrated.
- Again, do not apply any product to open wounds or blisters.
- If you wish, you can cover the blisters with a bandage until they have healed.
Step 5. Ask for a prescription for 1% silver sulphadiazine cream
Your doctor can prescribe this drug, which has powerful antibacterial properties, used to treat second and third degree burns. Usually the cream is applied twice a day, directly to the affected area. Do not stop treatment unless advised by your doctor.
The cream can have serious, albeit rare, side effects. They include pain, itching and burning. The skin and mucous membranes (such as the gums) can also become dull or gray. Ask your doctor about any side effects and stop using the cream immediately if they occur
Step 6. Avoid topical anesthetic creams and sprays
These products, in fact, can cause infections.
- In particular, avoid lotions and creams that contain benzocaine and lidocaine. Although often used in the past, these drugs can cause irritation and allergic reactions.
- Avoid using petroleum jelly. It can clog pores and prevent cells from transpiring, slowing healing.
Step 7. Drink some water
Sunburn draws fluids to the surface of the skin and away from other parts of the body. Make a commitment to drink plenty of water (at least 8 x 25cl glasses per day). Alternatively, choose fruit juices or sports drinks. Look out for signs of dehydration, which include dry mouth, thirst, decreased urine output, headaches, and fainting.
Step 8. Eat a healthy diet that promotes your recovery
With the help of good nutrition, burns such as sunburn can be cured more quickly, especially if you increase your protein intake: these substances act as a foundation for building new tissue and are necessary for skin to heal. irritation and to minimize scarring.
- The most common protein-rich foods are chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products, and eggs.
- The ideal daily protein intake is 1.5-3 grams of protein per pound of body weight.
Method 2 of 5: Using Homemade Remedies
Step 1. Use apple cider vinegar
This product can help in the treatment of sunburn by absorbing the heat from the skin and relieving the burning sensation and pain. The acetic and malic acid contained in the vinegar can neutralize burns and restore the correct pH levels in the affected areas. This prevents infections, making the skin a more inhospitable environment for microorganisms.
- To use apple cider vinegar, mix it with cold water and soak a soft cloth with the resulting solution before applying it to the affected area. You can also spray vinegar directly on the burn.
- The use of vinegar is recommended only in cases where the skin does not bear abrasions, because in the case of open wounds it can burn and cause irritation.
Step 2. Make a turmeric powder paste
This plant has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can relieve pain and inflammation caused by sunburn and blisters. Here are some tips on how to apply the powder:
- Mix turmeric powder with water or milk to make a paste. Afterward, apply it to blisters for 10 minutes before gently rinsing the skin.
- Mix turmeric powder, barley and yogurt to make a thick paste, which you will use to cover the affected area. Let the mixture sit for about half an hour, then wash it off with cold water.
Step 3. Consider using tomatoes
Tomato juice can reduce burning, redness and help heal the sunburn.
- Mix 60ml of tomato concentrate or juice with 120ml of buttermilk. Apply the mixture to sunburned skin, let it sit for about half an hour, then wash it off gently with cold water.
- Alternatively, add two cups of tomato juice to the tub filled with water and bathe for 10-15 minutes.
- For instant pain relief, apply raw chopped tomato mixed with crushed ice to the affected area.
- You might even try eating more tomatoes. One study has shown that people who eat five tablespoons of lycopene-rich tomato paste for three months are 25% more protected against sunburn.
Step 4. Use potatoes to cool burned skin
Raw potatoes help regulate the temperature of the burned area, cooling the skin which will then hurt you less and heal faster.
- Blend washed, cleaned, and sliced raw potatoes into a paste and apply the mixture directly to the blisters. Let it sit until it dries, then wash it off gently with cold water.
- You can repeat the application of this remedy every day until the blisters have completely disappeared.
Step 5. Try applying a milk compress to the skin
Milk coats the skin with proteins that help relieve the unpleasant sensation of sunburn, cooling the affected area and giving you relief.
- Dip a soft cloth in cool water mixed with skim milk, then leave it on your skin for several minutes.
- Make sure the milk isn't too cold. Take it out of the fridge about 10 minutes before you plan to use it.
Method 3 of 5: Relieve the Pain
Step 1. Be aware that most treatments are aimed at controlling symptoms
Treatment focuses on preventing damage and reducing perceived pain, but there is little it can do to speed up the healing process.
Step 2. Use a cold compress for relief
Cold water and cold compresses can reduce inflammation, causing blood vessels to contract and restrict blood flow to the affected area.
- The cold temperature helps numb nerve endings, giving you immediate and localized relief from the pain and burning caused by sunburn.
- You can also use compresses and compresses soaked in Burow's solution, which you can find at the pharmacy.
Step 3. Take a bath
Immerse yourself in the cool water and relax for 10-20 minutes; you will experience pain relief. Repeat the treatment as often as you like for several days.
- If you have a small towel, soak it in cold water and apply it to the affected area.
- It is not recommended to take a hot bath or use bath oils, as your skin can become irritated and cause even more discomfort.
Step 4. Take a shower with lukewarm water
Make sure the water temperature is just below what you consider warm. Pay attention to the strength of the jet of water; it should be gentle, so as not to cause you pain.
- In general, avoid showering if possible. The water pressure could cause your blisters to open prematurely, which could hurt, become infected, or leave a scar.
- After taking a shower, pat your skin dry with gentle strokes. Do not rub yourself with a towel or you may cause irritation.
Step 5. Take a pain reliever
If sunburn pain is severe, you can take oral pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin.
- Ibuprofen (Moment) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It works by controlling the levels of hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. It also limits the production of the hormones that cause fever.
- Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a drug that acts as an analgesic, relieving pain by inhibiting the signals that transmit this sensation to the brain. It is also an antipyretic, meaning it lowers your body temperature when you have a fever.
- Paracetamol (Tachipirina) is safer than aspirin for children who have a sunburn. Its action is very similar to that of acetylsalicylic acid.
- Talk to your doctor about these treatments if you have any doubts about how to administer the medications described above and to decide which one is best suited to your situation.
Step 6. Use cortisone cream to reduce inflammation
This drug contains a very small amount of steroids, which help reduce inflammation due to sunburn by suppressing the action of the immune system.
Do not apply cortisone cream to a baby's skin; ask your doctor for alternative treatment
Method 4 of 5: Understanding the Dangers and Symptoms of a Sunburn
Step 1. Learn how UV rays work
They can be divided into three types: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA and UVB rays are the ones that cause skin damage. UVAs make up 95% of all ultraviolet radiation and are responsible for sunburn and blisters. UVB rays, on the other hand, cause more erythema, or redness due to the swelling of blood vessels. Some examples of erythema are redness from sunburn, infections, inflammation and stress (such as when you turn red from embarrassment).
Step 2. Learn how blisters develop
They do not form immediately after exposure to the sun, but after a few days. They are caused by damage to blood vessels, which causes plasma and other fluids to escape between the layers of the skin, creating a pocket of fluid. Don't assume the blisters aren't related to sunburn just because they showed up later. Harmful UV rays affect light complexions more than dark ones, so depending on your skin type, you may be more or less prone to blisters.
- First-degree burns cause erythema and dilation of blood vessels, causing the skin to lift and turn red. These wounds only affect the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. However, damaged cells can release chemical mediators that can further irritate the skin and destroy other affected cells.
- Second-degree burns affect the innermost layers of the skin, as well as the blood vessels. Blisters are a symptom of such wounds, which by their nature are considered a more serious problem than a normal sunburn.
Step 3. Go to the emergency room right away if you notice any symptoms
Your body could suffer severely from prolonged sun exposure, such as from dehydration or from heat stroke. Look out for the following symptoms and seek medical attention right away if they occur:
- Dizziness or fainting.
- Tachycardia and rapid breathing.
- Nausea, chills, or fever.
- Very intense thirst.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Blisters that cover 20% of your body or more.
Step 4. Consider if you are afflicted with other pre-existing health problems
See a doctor if you have chronic actinic dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, herpes simplex, or eczema. Damage from the sun can aggravate these diseases. Sunburn can also cause keratitis, which is inflammation of the cornea of the eye.
Step 5. Notice the early symptoms
If you show the first signs of sunburn, try to get out of the sun right away to prevent blisters. Such symptoms include:
- Red skin, hot to the touch and painful. The ultraviolet rays emanating from the sun cause the death of living cells in the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). Once the body senses these dead cells, the immune system reacts by increasing blood flow to the affected areas and opening the capillary walls, allowing the white blood cells to remove the damaged cells. The increased circulation in the affected area makes the skin warm and red.
- Stinging pain in the affected area. By releasing chemicals, damaged cells activate nerve pain receptors, which send neurotransmitters to the brain that cause pain.
Step 6. Check for itchy blisters on the burned area
They can show up hours or days after exposure. The epidermis contains special nerve fibers that transmit the itching sensation. When the skin is damaged due to prolonged sun exposure, these fibers are activated and pain is felt in the affected area.
The body sends fluids to fill the tears and wounds in the damaged skin to protect it, causing blisters to form
Step 7. Check if you have a fever
When your body's immune system senses dead cells and other foreign bodies, it releases pyrogens (fever-causing substances), which travel to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. The pyrogens bind to the receptors in the hypothalamus and cause the internal temperature to rise.
You can take your temperature with a normal thermometer available in all pharmacies
Step 8. Notice if you peel
Dead cells in the burned area will peel off, allowing the body to replace them with new healthy skin cells.
Method 5 of 5: Preventing Sunburn
Step 1. Avoid sunlight
Prevention is always the best therapy for any disease and, of course, avoiding sunburn is the best way to keep skin healthy.
Avoid exposing yourself to direct sunlight for long periods of time. Try to stay in the shade, for example under a balcony, a parasol or a tree
Step 2. Use a sunscreen
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a 30 or higher protection cream that protects against UVA and UVB rays (both of these radiations can cause cancer). Many doctors recommend these guidelines to their patients. Note that babies have particularly delicate skin and that sunscreen should be applied all over their body (not before they have reached 6 months of age). There are sunscreens on the market that are suitable for babies and children.
- It is important to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside. Make sure you send it back regularly. A good rule of thumb is to apply 30ml of cream all over the body every 3 hours or after any activity where the skin gets wet (for example a swim in the pool).
- Don't be fooled by harsh climates. UV rays penetrate through clouds and snow reflects around 80% of them.
- Be especially careful if you live near the equator or at high altitudes. UV rays are much more powerful in these areas, due to the lower presence of ozone.
Step 3. Be careful when in the water
Not only does water limit the effectiveness of sunscreen, but wet skin is more exposed to UV damage than dry skin. Use a waterproof sunscreen when you go to the beach or the pool, or when you do intense physical activity outdoors.
If you swim or sweat a lot, you should apply sunscreen more often
Step 4. Put on protective clothing
Bring a hat, visor, sunglasses and anything you can to protect your skin from the sun's rays. You can even buy clothing that blocks UV rays.
Step 5. Avoid the sun during certain hours of the day
Try not to expose yourself to the sun from 10am to 4pm, the hours when it is high in the sky. At these times the light is more direct and, consequently, the UV rays are more dangerous.
If you can't avoid the sun entirely, seek shelter as much as possible
Step 6. Drink some water
Drinking is important to replenish fluids and to combat dehydration, another serious and common consequence of prolonged sun exposure.
- Make sure you stay hydrated and drink regularly when outdoors, especially if the weather is hot and exposed to the sun.
- Don't drink only when you are thirsty, but supply your body with the resources it needs before it signals you to be lacking.
