According to the American Academy of Dermatology, inevitable long-lasting damage to the body can be caused due to harsh UV rays. Sunburn may look like a temporary bruise but the damage penetrates deep within the skin. This puts a person at risk of skin cancer and other skin diseases.
Statistics say More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour. Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma. This makes protection against the sun all the more critical. This is all the more crucial as the world is facing harsh heat waves. Take a look at the best treatments for Sunburn-
Act Immediately
As soon as you get sunburnt, make sure immediately step indoors and take a cold shower. Cool, tepid water will help you ease the discomfort and minimize the risks of further damage. While you take a cool bath, make sure to add about 2 ounces of baking soda to the bathtub. This will provide extra relief to the skin. Keep repeating this method several times a day for a speedier recovery.
Stay hydrated
Among the major causes of severe sunburn, the damage is dehydration. The drier your skin and body remain; the worse will be the sunburn a knockout post effect. Make sure to apply and reapply lotion throughout the day. You could also go for an aloe vera gel for extra soothing hydration. Other natural products that work as great moisturizers are coconut oil, avocado oil, and shea butter.
For extra efficacy, refrigerate the lotion bottles for a while before application. Stay extra cautious and do not opt for lotions with alcohol content or else it is going to burn more. That said, hydration on the inside is also essential. Keep a bottle of water near you and stay hydrated. Drink more than your usual water intake, it will help your body with the discomfort and prevent dehydration.
Do not pick the bruises
Harsh sunburns lead to blisters and inflammation. The best thing would be not touching the blisters. The more you touch, the slower will be the healing process. If a blister pops on its own, clean it immediately and gently cut the dead skin. Make sure to use mild soap and water to clean the affected area. Once it is clean, use an antibiotic cream on the bruise and seal it with a bandage.
Medication
According to Mayo Clinic, among the best treatments for sunburn would be a non-prescription pain reliever. If the sun exposure has been for far too long then you must take medicine. Examples are acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). A pain-relieving medicated gel/cream will also help your skin feel better.
Make sure to choose a soothing medicated cream. This goes especially for the ones with mild sunburnt skin. The best one for you would be the 1% hydrocortisone cream. Apply it twice or thrice a day on the affected areas. Store the cream in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator.
An anti-itch drug will also work well in this condition. Antihistamine medications such as diphenhydramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Benadryl, and others) can help relieve extreme skin irritation and itching due to peeling skin.
Leave peeling skin alone
Peeling skin is an indication of healing. Make sure to not obstruct the process by touching it or ripping it on your own. Our body takes its own time to heal the skin, and unnatural peeling will make the condition. It might also leave you with a scar. It would be best to treat it gently and let the damaged skin heal on its own. Apply hydrating moisturizers while your skin peels.
Take care of your eyes
A rather serious effect of sunburn would be sunburned eyes. There is mild pain and irritation, redness, and swelling. The first thing to do is to remove your contact lenses (if you wear them). Do not wear them until your eyes have healed completely. Dampen a clean towel with cold water and let it rest on your eyes for as long as you want. Do not rub your eyes, despite the irritation.
Take precautions
When you expose your sunburnt skin to the sun, it does more damage than good. It would be best to stay indoors while your sunburn heals. Practice sun protection measures as much as you can. Stay covered and hydrated. Apply sunscreen even when you are indoors. Apart from sun exposure, make sure to avoid tight clothes when at home. You should let your skin breathe and heal. This will worsen the condition of your skin. However, when you step outside you must wear opaque fabrics that do not let heat or light pass through them.
Sunburn Drink
Saved the best for the last. You will not require any of the treatments mentioned above if you keep Sunburn drink handy. It is safe for your consumption for kids as well. It is all-natural and formulated with vitamins E, C, and D, Thiamin, Niacin, Biotin, Folate, Riboflavin, ginger root, green tea leaf, turmeric, marine collagen, and more. It shields you against harmful UV rays and treats you when the skin gets damaged. It is effective for damaged skin with no sunscreen protection as well.
The fresh citrusy flavor of Sunburn drink makes it an ideal outdoor beverage. It is healthy as it contains stevia extracts and no excess sugar. It is the first-ever sunburn recovery drink that heals internal and external skin damage. For best results drink it before and after sun exposure. When you are already sunburnt, the most effective and best sunburn treatment would be to drink sunburn immediately and frequently.
Sunburn treatments help in easing inflammation and discomfort. It does not heal your skin. It is to be noted that once your skin is sunburnt, your body will go through the usual phases to heal itself. Sunburn drink is the only sunburn treatment that works as preventive care as well.
