I think we have probably all done it. Gone way too long in the sun without protection, and ended up paying the price. At first you look a little pink and think it won’t be so bad. Then you wake up the next morning, look in the mirror and think you are looking at the Red Lobster logo!

Unfortunately, there’s no fast-fix sunburn treatment. The most effective treatment is easing the discomfort. Here are several suggestions I found to help ease the discomfort:

  • Keep it cool. Apply cold compresses — such as a towel dampened with cool water — to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath.
  • Keep it moist. Apply aloe, moisturizing cream or over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the affected skin. Beware of sunburn treatment products containing anesthetics, such as benzocaine. There’s little evidence that these products are effective. In some cases, they may even irritate the skin.
  • Leave blisters intact. If blisters form, don’t break them. You’ll only slow the healing process and increase the risk of infection. If needed, lightly cover blisters with gauze.
  • Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If needed, take anti-inflammatory medication — such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) — according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subside. Don’t give children or teenagers aspirin. It may cause Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
  • Treat peeling skin gently. Within a few days, the affected area may begin to peel. This is simply your body’s way of getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin. While your skin is peeling, continue to use moisturizing cream.

I have also read quite a few other remedies that people have used and swear by -  ranging from vinegar and water to cold milk and even tomato juice! Do you have any trusted remedies to treat sunburn that you have used successfully in the past? If so, please share.

Tags: