Despite our best intentions, we sometimes find ourselves caught out in the sun without any protection – and we can suffer quite bad sunburn as a result.
Here are some handy tips on how to treat this.
- COOL THE BURN
As quickly as you can, stand under gently running cool water or submerge in a bath of cool water in order to reduce the heat of the burn. (You might want to start with tepid water, then as your skin cools, cool the water further.)
If you cannot do this, then wet a towel in cold water and lay this over the burnt areas of your skin. Cold compresses will act to cool down your inflamed skin.
Do NOT towel dry. Let your skin “air dry”.
- APPLY ALOE VERA GEL OR LIQUID
Always ensure that you have a supply of Aloe Vera gel or liquid in your home as it is has wonderful burn healing properties. Ensure you pack your Aloe Vera whenever you go away on holiday or business.
When your skin has air dried, apply the Aloe Vera gently to the burnt areas with your fingertips. Do not rub it in. Reapply often.
If you do not have Aloe Vera, then use a cooling after sun moisturing cream instead.
For adults (over 16) – if you have no soothing creams at hand, then make an anti-inflammatory paste out of aspirin tablets. (Crush tablets to a very fine powder, then add water to form a soft paste) Apply this to the sunburn.
- HOME REMEDIES
– these word of mouth remedies have been known to bring relief:
- Dilute vinegar with water on a scale of 1:1. Soak towels or cloths in the vinegar solution and drape over the sunburn
- Milk of Magnesia. Dampen a cotton pad and dab Milk of Magnesia onto the sunburn and allow to dry. This will have a cooling effect on the burn
- Nothing else to hand? Try gently spreading some plain yoghurt onto your sunburn
- DRINK LOTS OF WATER
(and we mean LOTS) - COVER UP
- Apply sun block and moisturising creams
- COVER UP and wear loose clothing
- DON’T…..
- Put vinegar onto open blisters
- Pop or peel skin off blisters
- Pick, poke or peel any skin
- Take a hot shower or bath
- Drink alcohol
- Apply alcohol to your burnt skin
- Use creams containing benzocaine, lidocaine or petroleum
- Expose your skin to more sunshine
- SEEK MEDICAL HELP
If you feel nauseous, you have a fever and chills, you feel faint or you have extensive blistering or intense itching or if you see any signs of infection on your sunburnt skin, SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
We would like to encourage you to explore the alternatives that are available. If you are not sure how to go about this or would like some guidance with regards to your unique circumstances, please contact us and we’ll be happy to share some more ideas with you.