Sunburn
The Guide To Curing A Sunburn — Fast!
It doesn't really matter why you got a sunburn; all that counts right now is figuring out how to cure it ASAP.
The first step to treating a sunburn is to, well, get out of the sun. After that, you've got to address the immediate side effects, including the stinging, redness, and swelling, but also treat the long-term damage. A sunburn is a sign of free-radical damage, which can lead to getting wrinkles much earlier than expected.
So, what's a red-faced person to do?
Drink A Glass of Cold Water
Whether you notice your burn immediately or a few hours after leaving the beach/pool, the first thing you should do after getting out of the sun is hydrate. Your body loses fluids when it's overheated so drink a cold glass of water after getting a sunburn (or spending any time in the sun, period).
Use an Ice Pack
Find a cool compress to take down swelling and lower the temperature of overheated skin. The same way ice can soothe a thermal burn, it can do the same for a sunburn. To protect your skin from direct contact with ice, use an ice pack or wrapping it in a towel before applying to the burn.
Try OTC Anti-Inflammatories
Notice swelling? If you're feeling added discomfort or stinging from the swollen burn, this would be a good time to take an oral anti-inflammatory to heal the skin from the inside out.
Take A Cool Shower
Hop in a lukewarm or cool shower to rinse off any sunscreen residue, sand, and sweat before using any topical sunburn remedies. The water will also help relieve your overheated skin and bring your body temperature back down to a comfortable level. This is a good place to start your skin treatment by using a gentle hydrating cleanser to wash — not scrub! — the skin.
Take A Bath
Shower sound too painful? Skip it for a milk or oatmeal bath. Mixing 6 cups of whole milk into a lukewarm or cool tub of water will soothe skin fast. The fat and proteins in the milk have an anti-inflammatory effect, while oatmeal is a natural redness reducer and repairs the skin barrier.
Apply A Cooling Lotion
After carefully drying off, use a lightweight healing lotion to repair the skin barrier. Beware of using a thicker formula, like a butter or balm, which could lock in the burning sensation that's causing discomfort. Instead, reach for a formula with antioxidants, like pure aloe vera or vitamin E, that will reduce the free-radical damage from the sun exposure and soothe redness. Keeping your burn hydrated with lotion won't just speed up the healing process, but help you avoid that uncomfortable tightness that tends to follow a sunburn.
For a face sunburn, a cooling gel-based mask that will quench your thirsty skin, alleviate tightness, and offer some relief is a good move. For an even more calming effect, leave the gel in the fridge for 30 minutes before putting it on the skin. Repeat application every three hours. If you don't have any gel, use plain yogurt from your fridge as an alternative. It works as an anti-inflammatory. Apply, let it dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat this process every hour.
Don't Peel Your Skin
Depending on the severity of the burn, it could take three to four days for the redness to subside. In fact, the burn will develop for at least 12 hours after it first surfaces. And for it to fully heal? Well, all the pros agree that takes even longer — at least a week, if not two.
In the meantime, the burn might begin to peel, which you should not pick. The natural healing process of a sunburn is for the skin to peel, which can start a few days after you get the burn. You can scar the skin by peeling it before it's ready to come off. Just let it shed naturally.
Take care 😎