Sunburn Cures
Sure Fire Sunburn Cures
There are fortunately some foolproof sunburn cures for those of us who find it hard to get out of the sun. Whether it is your first day at the beach in a long time, or a day spent at your child’s field day or a day when you were marching in a parade, sun burn happens.
Sometimes despite our taking precautions they prove inadequate and then we are left dealing with hypersensitive and irritated skin.
So here are a few key things to remember when treating your sunburn:
Cool – It is helpful to keep the skin cool and so cold compresses are wonderfully effective as sunburn cures. Cool baths can also serve the same purpose. You can add known cooling agents such as cucumber, lavender, chamomile or apple cider vinegar to either your bath or the compress to heighten the effectiveness of the treatment. Adding baking soda to your bath water and soaking in it will soothe the skin and you can let it air dry afterwards to continue the cooling action.
Moist – Your skin is irritated in part because it has lost a lot of moisture and you can address this by applying moisturizing creams and moisturizing agents such as aloe or Vitamin E. The latter two are part of many a cream and oil and you can purchase them at your local drug store. By applying them as oils or creams, you can be sure of there staying on your skin for a stretch of time. Doctors also suggest hydrocortisone creams as being soothing but warn against creams with benzocaine which is supposed to be an anesthetic. There is no proof that these local anesthetics are effective and they can actually be additionally irritating to the skin. Calendula is a well-known cure for burnt skin and it works well in this situation also. You can use it as a cream or infuse the tincture in your compress or bath water.
Blisters – Blisters can be a good sign of healing. They are a natural step in the process of skin health and you should not try to break them or disturb them in any way. If you are bothered by them or feel itchy it is advisable to cover the area with a layer of thin cotton so as to reduce your risk of scratching the area.
Skin peeling – This is another step in the natural process of healing and should not be seen as a worsening of the burn. The body is discarding the affected skin and will eventually produce other skin tissue to cover the area. You can continue to use moisturizers during this stage.
Medication – It is okay to take pain relievers if you feel very uncomfortable and anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen can also help you deal with the soreness and swelling. Aspirin should not be given to teenagers or young children, however, as they can be potentially harmful. You can help your body heal sooner by taking a few health supplements. Doctors suggest that Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta carotene and flaxseed oil are all useful supplements for a person suffering from sunburn.
There are innumerable folk remedies for sun burn from oatmeal to yoghurt and onions to peppermint. You can use your common sense and pick something readily available that will achieve the purpose of cooling and moisturizing your skin. Just make sure that you do not cover your blisters with oils or creams as this can lead to infection.
Now that you have an idea of how to handle the most typical cases of sunburn, it is worth knowing the things you should worry about and that need medical intervention. Extreme sunburn with blisters covering most of your body accompanied by severe pain and high temperatures warrants a visit to the doctor. Also consult the doctor if an apparently mild case of sunburn does not disappear in a few days.