Yes, we all know that exposing our unprotected skin to the harmful UV rays of the sun is a bad thing. And we’ve probably all underestimated the sun’s power on one occasion or another, and wound up with painful sunburn to show for it. Once the damage has been done, the best you can hope for is a bit of relief from the sting until your skin can heal itself. The good news is that there are some ways to soothe that burn.

The First Few Hours

A nasty sunburn may not rear its ugly head for a number of hours after the exposure has taken place. At the first indication that your skin is going to be seeing some redness and pain, head directly to the ibuprofen or aspirin. Do not pass go, and do not collect any cash. These over the counter medications can reduce the inflammation while easing the pain, making them an effective attack against the discomfort of sunburn. Of course, if you have any concerns about other medical conditions you might have or other medications that you might be taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.

The next step in sunburn relief can be to take a cool bath or apply a cool compress to the affected area. If you opt for the compress, you can either use one that has been soaked in cool water, or a combination of equal parts of water and milk. This can be a good way to cool down the area, and reduce the burning. You can also dress in light, loose clothing and avoid fabrics that may rub or scratch against your skin. If blisters develop, do not pop them since this can lead to infection. Drink plenty of water as you are treating your sunburn to help hydrate your skin and the rest of your body that was exposed to the heat.

If you feel the need to put something on your burn, opt for a moisturizing lotion, aloe gel or a low dose hydrocortisone cream. Using a cream with anywhere from .5 to 1% hydrocortisone can help to reduce the inflammation as well as the pain. Aloe gel can soothe tender skin and assist in the healing process, and any other type of moisturizer can keep the skin cool and moist for some additional relief as well. Avoid products with petroleum jelly, since this substance can actually lock in the heat and even make a burn worse.

The Next Few Days

Of course, we all know what will eventually happen to a nasty sunburn; it will begin to peel. Yuck, right? The other component to the peeling is the itching, and there are some ways to bring relief to this stage of the process. An oatmeal bath can be a great way to ease the itch, as can a hydrocortisone cream. Any moisturizing lotion can be effective in keeping the itch to a minimum as well. And rest assured that the peeling process is simply your skin’s way of healing. Next time you will take that mean old sun a bit more seriously. Protect your skin.

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