If you've spent time basking in the sun, you have probably experienced the downside of sun exposure: a severe sunburn. Sunburn symptoms can include tender, peeling skin, blisters and even headaches and nausea. While eventually the symptoms of even an extreme sunburn will fade, the long-term health consequences can be significant. When it comes to a bad sunburn, the old adage applies: an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
Immediate Treatment
There is no "fast fix" to a bad sunburn, the Mayo Clinic warns. It can take up to a day to see the full extent of the burn. At that point, simply try to reduce the pain, soreness and swelling as much as you can.
See a physician if the following symptoms are present: extreme pain or a very high temperature, severe blisters covering a significant percentage of your body, clamminess, sunken eyes, rapid breathing or few signs of improvement after several days.
Medical Advice
The Mayo Clinic advises the following quick-action steps: apply a cold towel to the affected area or take a cooling bath; use aloe or hydrocortisone cream to keep the area moist and provide some immediate relief; instead of breaking blisters that form, lightly wrap them in gauze bandages to prevent infection; take aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatories to reduce pain and swelling. Children and teenagers should not take aspirin.
Healing Baths
If your sunburn is still fresh, a cool bath might be your first soothing remedy to try. Herbalist Andrea Candee suggests a variety of concoctions to soothe sunburn and heal skin quickly. Her first suggestion is a wood-aged apple cider vinegar bath. The vinegar, Candee says, will help rebalance the skin's acid/alkaline balance. You can find wood-aged vinegars at most health food stores. Put 2 cups of vinegar in a bath of tepid water and soak for 15 minutes.
In addition to a bath, Candee also recommends a yogurt compress for sunburned skin. Put whole-milk yogurt in cheesecloth layers and place on skin; replace with a new compress as it warms up, she advises.
Aloe
Aloe is the skin's wonder drug, Candee argues. Aloe naturally stimulates skin renewal, contains powerful antioxidants and minerals and helps fight virus and infections, she says.
For smaller burns, Candee suggests slitting an aloe stalk at the base, and placing an entire section of the aloe plant, gel side down, on the burned area. Cover with tape to secure the dressing; the remaining plant can be wrapped in plastic and kept refrigerated.
A study conducted in 2009 confirmed aloe's effectiveness. A medical team treated more than two dozen patients with second-degree burns and found that aloe worked better for healing minor burns than over-the-counter treatments containing silver sulfadiazine.
Prevention and Long-Term Effects
When it comes to sunburn, prevention is best. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Wear long-sleeved clothing and a broad-rimmed hat. Sunscreen has to be used properly to work effectively: apply at least an ounce liberally, and re-apply after you've sweated from activity or gone in the water. Don't use sunscreen that is more than three years old.
Getting a "base tan" at the tanning booth is no protection, according to Newsweek. Although the bronze tan might give you few extra minutes in the sun without burning, that "healthy" tan indicates exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which dramatically increases skin aging and your risk of skin cancer. Dermatologists advise staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid prolonged exposure.
UV radiation from sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer. Severe sunburns, particularly before the age of 18, can dramatically increase your risk from the deadliest form of skin cancer: melanoma. You may love the feel of the warm sun and a glowing tan, but the result can be dramatic aging and even death.
