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Thursday, November 26, 2009

User Post: Treating Sunburn

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So you got too much sun... now what?
-Paige Herman Axel, BettyConfidential.com

A sunburn can happen to the best of us. If you're anything like me, every time I think I've covered myself from head to toe, I inevitably miss a spot. Instead of beating yourself up, vow not to make the same mistake again, and read on to learn how to take the sting and redness out of getting burned.

Before you head outside
Do be vigilant about busting out the sunscreen every time you hit the pool or the beach, but unfortunately, even the most sunscreen-obsessed among us apply it incorrectly. The recommended dose is a shot-glass-worth of lotion for the entire body-applied every 2 to 3 hours and after swimming-which means a family should finish a bottle in 1 to 2 days in the sun. (How long have you been using your bottle?) Also make sure you hit those commonly missed areas, like the ears, tops of the feet, your hairline, and where you part your hair. I've found that a sunscreen stick like Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Stick SPF 50 is great for these small easy-to-miss spots  ($4.19, drugstore.com).

After the fact
So you get home, take a shower, and stare at the outline of your bathing suit in disbelief. Now, head for the medicine cabinet. First, pop some Motrin or Advil. West Palm Beach dermatologist Kenneth Beer recommends 400 mg twice a day along with a dose of Claritin or Zyrtec until the redness and discomfort begin to subside. Dr. Beer also says to use an over-the-counter topical hydrocortisone a few times a day to help with the inflammation. Another option, he says, is a rich, fragrance-free cream called Theraplex that you can find at the drugstore.

In the event of a really bad burn, a trip to the dermatologist's office may be in order. Some doctors turn to GentleWaves, a painless light-based anti-aging treatment that is believed to calm inflammation. Your dermatologist may prescribe a higher-strength topical steroid or even an oral prescription steroid for severe sunburns.

Keep in mind that even a dermatologist can get a sunburn from time to time. Dr. Beer says, "When it happens to me, I put on a topical steroid as quickly as I can, and keep the skin moist until it heals. I also avoid hot water for a few days until the skin recovers."

Read more about skin care:  Melanoma Fast Facts, Skin Cancer Prevention and Ways to Treat Sensitive Skin

Related: treating sunburn, theraplex, sunscreen, sunburn, sensitive skin, gentlewaves

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From the Community…

Comments 1-8 of 8
  • slrocksmysocks41's Avatar
    Posted by slrocksmysocks41 Mon Jun 8, 2009 1:30pm PDT

    I got pretty badly sunburned last summer. OUCH! The only thing that helped with the pain was applying a good quality, fragrance-free lotion (I used one by eucerin. Do NOT use aloe-vera or solarcane, neither of these did anything to help) constantly. And I mean constantly, to the point where I felt greasy 99% of the time, but I wasn't in pain. Before I went to sleep I would layer it on like a mask and leave it that way overnight (which felt really gross but at least I could sleep), and then I would re-apply it every half hour or so during the day. This helped keep my skin damage to a minimum and helped keep itching at bay. Also, make sure to let your skin peel on it's own, don't help it along as this could cause more pain or scarring, especially if there is blistering. Hope this helps! I definitely learned my lesson and won't go outside anymore without my spf 45!

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  • AMBER C's Avatar
    Posted by AMBER C Tue Jun 9, 2009 8:25am PDT

    I swear by green tea applied to the burned areas. Reduces inflammation and makes the burn go away quickly. Green tea/chamomile blend worked the best for me.

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  • kittiesandsparkleythings's Avatar
    Posted by kittiesandsparkleythings Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:19am PDT

    Since I'm a redhead, I think I'm an expert on sunburns.

    Stay away from anything petroleum based. It just traps heat. Moisturize, yes, but anything with mineral oil or other petroleum products is going to hurt you more than needed.

    Aloe is the best. Real aloe, not that lime green crap they sell at the grocery store. Get it at a health food store, and make sure there are no parabens or phthaylates in it. And you need to apply often.

    Nothing, short of a spinal block, is going to make the pain go away. Just get used to it. It will go away in a few days. What you want to avoid is doing things to make the pain worse, and you want to minimize the damage of the burn. It is a burn, just like you'd get if you put your hand on a hot stove. You can't make the pain go away without serious pain medication.

    Aloe will cool the burn a little but it doesn't last long, so keep applying. You might also try applying cool tea bags (let the tea run over the burn), yogurt and honey, crushed tylenol dissolved in water (rub it on with a wash cloth). Most of this is stuff you want to wash off eventually. Aloe you can leave on.

    If you start to peel, you need to moisturize more. Use a non petroleum based lotion, or a food grade light oil. I like coconut oil.

    If the burn was bad enough to blister, you might want to call your doctor. I never do, but I'm probably being reckless.

    Take some tylenol or something to bring the fever down, and stay hydrated. Drink at least 12, 8 oz servings of water a day until the burn goes away.

    The best bet is to avoid a burn in the first place!

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  • DANIELLE's Avatar
    Posted by DANIELLE Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:17am PDT

    I use Noxema, every year I burn the first time I go out. If you buy noxema (the orginal in the jar, it's thicker) & put it all over your sun burn while your in the shower & leave it for a few mins then wash it off without scrubbing. You might smell, but it really does work. If its really bad you can put it on after shower too, just don't use as much & rub in.

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  • DANIELLE's Avatar
    Posted by DANIELLE Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:18am PDT

    I forgto, use good lotion afterwards a couple of times a day to prevent peeling, I use cocca butter.

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  • bimal's Avatar
    Posted by bimal Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:01am PDT

    how r u

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  • bimal's Avatar
    Posted by bimal Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:01am PDT

    whats your name

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  • SB's Avatar
    Posted by SB Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:06pm PDT

    I took the Made from Earth Aloe & Jojoba Creme Therapy on a recent vacation to Barbados. I usually burn on my face, shoulders and arms. My skin is quite painful and I peel for two weeks after I get home, which is never a pretty sight.

    This time, I applied the Aloe & Jojoba Therapy (from Made from Earth) every evening after getting back to my hotel room. The first thing you notice is how immediately soothing it is. Also, my skin recovered more quickly the next day. I didnt peel at all after getting home, and had a great tan as well - which lasted longer than normal. I'm never going on vacation without it again.

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