How to Treat a Sunburn and What You Can Do to Prevent One

When you get a sunburn, it can be very painful. Sunburns can leave you red, possibly with blisters if the sunburn is severe enough, and you may also end up with peeling skin and may feel pain and tenderness for several days afterward. Sunburns like this are not healthy for your skin. If you burn like this often enough, you could be more susceptible to getting skin cancer than someone that doesn't get sunburns like this. It's important to treat your sunburn properly to help you heal faster and to soothe your skin. Read on for some sunburn treatment tips and what you need to do to prevent a sunburn in the first place. 

Apply Aloe Vera or Vitamin E

After you have gotten a sunburn, you should apply aloe vera to your skin or you can apply vitamin E to your skin. The aloe vera and vitamin E will help soothe your skin, keep it hydrated, and can also prevent peeling. Both of these can ease the burning sensation that your skin is feeling as well. Your skin is going to feel very hot to the touch, and both of these will feel much cooler after applying. Apply either of these liberally to your skin, and repeat anytime as necessary, especially if your skin starts to feel tight.

Take Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever

Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can help ease the pain associated with a sunburn. It will also help make you feel a little more comfortable and could help you with sleep, as your burning skin may not afford you much sleep in the few days after you get your sunburn. 

Take Cool Showers

To help prevent any further burning sensation to your skin, taking a cool shower can help to soothe your skin and ease pain, in addition to helping with any swelling you may feel after your sunburn. Hot showers may further irritate your skin, or dry it out. Stick with cool showers instead.

Preventing a Sunburn

To help you prevent a sunburn such as this in the first place, you should wear sunscreen anytime you are out in the sun. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 on the body, and be sure to apply it to your delicate skin, such as the skin on your face, shoulders, ears, and head. Also wear a hat when in the sun, sunglasses, and cover your skin as much as possible. Re-apply your sunscreen every hour, and apply again after sweating or swimming.

If you have a sunburn, it can be very painful. Severe sunburns need to be treated properly and should be prevented whenever possible to prevent your risk of skin cancer from going up. Contact a clinic like Desert Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists for other tips to treating a sunburn and what you should do to keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays.