Prolonged exposure to the sun often results in sunburn to the skin, characterized by redness, pain and even swelling. There is no fast cure for sunburn--it may take up to a day to determine the severity of the sunburn, and a few more days before your skin begins to heal. However, treating a sunburn immediately can help reduce pain and lessen healing time. To prevent a sunburn from occurring, wear a sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher and reapply liberally. If your sunburn is accompanied by a high fever, consult a doctor immediately.
Moisturizers
The Mayo Clinic suggests applying a moisturizing cream to recently sunburned skin. This will rehydrate and cool the skin, and help keep your sunburn from peeling. Apply a store-bought moisturizer to the skin throughout the day as needed to help keep skin moist.
As an alternative to a store-bought moisturizer, use aloe vera gel. Purchase an aloe vera plant from a nursery, then break open the leaves of the plant to remove the gel inside. Apply the aloe vera gel directly to the skin three times a day to help reduce the swelling and pain from to sunburn and to keep skin hydrated.
Cold Compresses
Skin that is sunburned can become itchy, irritated and swollen. To help reduce pain and itchiness, apply a cold compress to the skin. Wet a washcloth with cool water, then apply the washcloth directly to the most sunburned areas of the skin. If your entire body is sunburned, wet a large towel and lay it across your entire body. Wring out the towel periodically and rinse it again in cool water, then reapply the towel to the skin. Repeat as necessary throughout the day to soothe sunburned skin.
Oatmeal Bath
A severe sunburn can make the entire body feel uncomfortable. To help calm your sunburn and keep itchiness under control, take a cool oatmeal bath. Purchase colloidal oatmeal at the drugstore, that is made specifically for the bathtub, or use store-bought oatmeal. Add a handful of colloidal or store-bought oatmeal to a bathtub full of cool water, then soak for 20 minutes to help reduce pain, itchiness and swelling. Use a strainer to drain store-bought oatmeal from the bathtub before draining out the bathwater to prevent it from clogging the plumbing.
