Sunburn, with its accompanying redness, pain and swollen skin is not pleasant. Although the best thing to do is avoid getting burned in the first place, there are some things you can do to ease the pain involved with this condition.
Types
Although there is no way to quickly heal a sunburn, you can get some relief with a combination of over-the-counter pain relievers and topical remedies, according to the MayoClinic.com. Taking a bath in cool water can also offer relief, as can keeping the area moist by applying aloe or other moisturizing creams.
Treatments to Avoid
Avoid any treatment that contains alcohol, petroleum, lidocaine or benzocaine, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center website. Alcohol dries out the skin and the others can irritate the skin or can cause allergic reactions in some people. Check the ingredient list of commercially sold sunburn relief medications before purchasing them, as some contain these ingredients.
Considerations
Do not pop any blisters, as this can lead to infection and delay the healing process, according to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Just cover them lightly with gauze to keep them from becoming irritated. Do not give children aspirin; use ibuprofen or acetaminophen instead, due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome.
Warning
You should call your doctor if you have severe or painful blisters over a large part of your body; you feel dizzy or faint; your skin is cool and clammy; your pulse or breathing is very fast; you are extremely thirsty; or you have nausea, chills, a fever or a rash, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center website. These are signs of serious conditions associated with getting too much sun such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and shock. You should also see a doctor if your sunburn doesn't start to get better within a few days.
Time Frame
Your sunburn is likely to seem the worst between 12 and 24 hours after you get burned; it will then start to heal and you'll feel better within a few days. However, you can treat the pain and keep the skin moist until it is fully healed. Don't worry if the skin begins to peel after starting to heal, as this is the body's way of getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin, notes MayoClinic.com.
