Saturday, February 24, 2018

Common Sense Suggestions For How To Heal Sunburn

By Deborah Lewis


A lot of today's sun worshippers are more aware of over exposing themselves to damaging rays than previous generations. They are more inclined to use sunscreen and stay inside during the hottest parts of the day. If you have stayed too long on the beach or at the pool, without using these recommended protections however, following some easy tips for how to heal sunburn is your next step.

You're probably already burned by the time you notice your skin getting pink. As soon as this happens though, you need to head for a shady spot, preferably inside. The pink tinge will turn to red within hours. Taking a cool shower is one of the best things you can do to get relief. You can also make a compress from a mixture of cold water and baking soda.

You want to avoid the temptation of lathering the skin with creams and lotion right after a burn. Hydrocortisone and aloe are good for your skin, but not until it begins to heal. You need to wait until your skin starts to dry and gets itchy to apply creams. Severe burns might need extra attention and prescription lotions.

Natural remedies are often more effective than the more expensive lotions and potions you find in stores. Cucumbers, for instance, are a good source of antioxidants and analgesics. You can turn them into paste by mashing them in a blender and then applying the paste to the affected area. Tea bags are also great for sunburns. There is tannic acid in tea that draws heat away from the body and restores PH. Cider vinegar added to bath water is another natural soother.

Blistered skin is an indication of a second degree burn, which is much more serious. You can wash it with antibiotic creams. When you have large clusters of blisters, applying dry bandages may be necessary to prevent infection. Popping the blisters is tempting, but you should never do it. That increases the chances of infection and will slow the healing process.

Any kind of infection can quickly become very serious. If you have burned skin, you need to look out for signs of increasing pain, fever, and discharge coming from the blisters. Any of these symptoms are worth a visit to the nearest walk-in clinic or, if you have a high fever, a trip to the emergency room.

People make a lot of common mistakes when dealing with sunburns. Petroleum jelly and butter are not good for this condition, and can make it worse. Harsh soaps will dry out your skin. All of these will make the healing process more difficult and prolonged. Over the counter medications can be effective, but you have to be careful about reading the labels before you use them.

You can have fun in the sun on the beach or at the pool. Most people find the combination of heat, water, and sun relaxing. If you overdo it without the protection you need however, all you will remember is the terrible sunburn you got.




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