Spending time in the sun is a popular pastime for people throughout the United States and much of the rest of the world. Regardless of whether you are sunbathing in the summertime or snowboarding in the winter, there is a chance of developing sunburn. Sunburn occurs when ultraviolet radiation from the sun damages your skin. This damage can result in a painful burning sensation and inflammation in the form of a sunburn. When sunburns occur, there are several ways in which you can obtain relief.
Cool Washcloth
One of the first ways to deal with a sunburn is to place a cool washcloth over the affected skin tissue. The cool of the cloth will help reduce the burning sensation, and the wetness of the cloth will help keep the burned skin tissue moist.
Cool Bath
A cool bath (not cold) can also help relieve sunburn, especially when the burn is on a larger area of your body. Like a cool cloth, a cool bath can help reduce the burning sensation. Do not take a cool shower as the pressure of the shower nozzle can irritate the burned skin, causing more pain than relief.
OTC Pain Relievers
To deal with the pain associated with sunburns, an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever may be enough to keep you comfortable. Common OTC pain relievers for sunburn include aspirin or ibuprofen. Both aspirin and ibuprofen also have anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce swelling. It's important to note that he Mayo Clinic does not recommend giving aspirin to children or teenagers due to rare possible risks of developing Reye's syndrome.
Aloe
Aloe vera gel is a common natural remedy for sunburn relief. Products, such as aloe vera gel, are derived from the internal pulp of the aloe vera plant. When applied to the affected skin, aloe has the ability to reduce inflammation, as well as sooth and moisturize sun-burnt skin, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Moisturizing Cream
Sun burns can severely dry out your skin, making it difficult for the skin to heal as quickly, and also leading to skin peeling. Skin moisturizing creams help keep the skin moist, soothing the burnt skin and helping the damage heal faster. If severe sunburn has occurred to the point where blisters are present on the skin, skin moisturizers are not recommended, according to the NIH.
