A third of adult Americans in the United States have sunburned annually, and more than 33,000 of these burns necessitate trips to the emergency department, according to the National Cancer Institute. You run a higher risk of being burnt if you have fair skin or spend a lot of time in the sun. In general, more severe sunburns recover more slowly than less severe ones. Enough Info
How thoroughly you treat sunburn and if you have a disease like diabetes or vascular disease, which slows down wound healing, are other factors that affect how quickly you heal. There are a few ways you may help your body’s natural healing process even though there are no miracle remedies for sunburn.
Read Also: How To Reach Your Full Potential
Let’s examine the best strategies for accelerating sunburn recovery.
Relieving pain and discomfort
Take a soothing shower or a chilly bath
Relax for 10 to 20 minutes in water that is just below lukewarm (cool but not tooth-chattering chilly). Use a mild stream of water when taking a shower rather than a full blast to prevent irritating your skin. To avoid abrasion of the skin, air dry or gently pat with a towel.
- When taking a bath or shower, stay away from the soap, bath oils, and other detergents. Any such items may irritate your skin and exacerbate the symptoms of a sunburn.
- Take a bath rather than a shower if you have skin blisters developing. Your blisters can pop from the shower’s pressure. How To Be Healthy And Active
Apply a cold, wet compress
Lay a washcloth or other piece of fabric over the afflicted region for 20 to 30 minutes after dampening it with cold water. As often as necessary, re-wet it.
Avoid popping any blisters
Blisters shouldn’t be ignored unless they are severe or widespread; otherwise, you should leave them alone. The AAD claims that opening them puts them susceptible to infection. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you treat the open wound with gentle soap and water, cover it with antibiotic ointment, and bandage it if blisters break on their own.
Consider taking an over-the-counter painkiller
Ibuprofen and aspirin are examples of over-the-counter medications that can alleviate pain and may or may not diminish inflammation. Children should never be given aspirin. Choose an acetaminophen product intended exclusively for children instead. Ibuprofen (Child’s Motrin) is a suitable choice because it may have an anti-inflammatory impact. How To Find Motivation To Achieve Your Goal After A Setback
Read Also: How to Build Healthy Bones (Top Strategies: 2023)
Try using a topical painkiller
Additionally, sprays for reducing red and itchy skin are offered by pharmacies. Sprays containing benzocaine, lidocaine, or pramoxine have anesthetic properties that may lessen discomfort. However, because these might be allergies, it could be wise to try the drug on a patch of skin that is unaffected first. Then, after a day, check to see if it produces any itching or redness.
- Children 2 years of age or under should not be exposed to these sprays without a doctor’s approval. Children under the age of 12 may be at risk from methyl salicylate or trolamine salicylate sprays, and anybody with a chili allergy or those under the age of 18 may be at risk from capsaicin. How to Have a Healthy Brain( Requirements)
A loose cotton shirt should be worn over burnt skin
While you’re healing from a sunburn, the best apparel to wear is loose cotton pajamas and baggy t-shirts. If you can’t dress comfortably, at least make sure your clothes are made of cotton (cotton helps your skin to “breathe”) and are as loose-fitting as you can get away with.
- Due to their scratchy fibers or retained heat, wool and some synthetic textiles are particularly uncomfortable. How to Stop Underarm Odour(Methods)
Keeping Damage and Re-Exposure from Occurring
Reduce your time spent in the sun
If you’re returning to the sun, it’s best to stay in the shade or cover any afflicted areas with clothes.
Put on sunscreen
Every time you go outside, use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. Reapply as directed on the product label, every hour, after swimming or another vigorous exercise.
Take in a lot of water
While recovering from a sunburn, it’s crucial to drink enough of water to balance the potential dehydration. While healing, drinking eight to ten glasses of water each containing one cup (240 mL) of water is advised.
Defend against more harm
If you must return outside, protect your skin with clothing and remain in the shade. Apply plenty of sunscreens as well; at least a shot glass’ worth on the body and a nickel-sized amount on the face. Use SPF on the burn to prevent causing more harm and igniting the flames!
Read Also: How to Get a Job(2023)
Considering Home Remedies
Use aloe vera
There is a reason why it is the preferred after-sun item. Whether it comes from a bottle or is harvested directly from the plant, pure aloe vera gel has calming and cooling effects. It could help speed up the healing of wounds. Additionally, the aloe plant’s ability to be anti-inflammatory has been demonstrated in test tube research.
Think about consuming vitamin C and antioxidant-rich foods
Try consuming foods rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, such as blueberries, tomatoes, and cherries, if the burn is still very fresh (still red and not peeling). According to one study, this decreased the body’s need for fluids, hence reducing the risk of dehydration.
Apply egg oil (Oleova)
Docosahexaenoic Acid, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, is abundant in egg oil. Additionally, it includes cholesterol, xanthophylls (lutein and zeaxanthin), and immunoglobulins. The omega-3 fatty acids in egg oil are linked to phospholipids, which can generate liposomes, which may be able to penetrate deeply and repair the dermis. How To Stop Being Self Centered
- Use egg oil to massage the injured skin twice daily. For each of the two daily sessions, gently massage the region for 10 minutes, including the one-inch surrounding periphery.
Try using calendula cream
Some people believe that calendula ointment is especially beneficial for serious burns that are blistering. Ask the shopkeeper or a naturopath for guidance if you can’t locate it at a naturopathic store. Be warned that no herbal remedy should be used to treat severe wounds; instead, consult a physician right away if you have severe burns or blisters that won’t go away.
At your own risk, use these
The cures listed here have not undergone enough scientific verification and should not take the place of modern medical care. Additional treatments not mentioned below might impede recovery or worsen the infection. Particularly stay away from vinegar, peanut butter, petroleum jelly, and egg whites.
Receiving Medical Care
If the situation is critical, dial an emergency number
If you or a friend experience any of these signs, dial your local emergency number right away:
- Unfit to stand
- Inability to think clearly or confusion
- Out of it
Read Also: How To Deal With Anxiety(2023)
Keep an eye out for infection indications
Your skin may be infected if you exhibit any of the following signs and symptoms, particularly in the area around a blister. Medical care is really necessary.
- A blister that is more painful, swollen, red, or heated than usual
- The blister has red streaks radiating from it
- Pus leakage from the blister
- Lymph nodes in your neck, armpit, or groin that are swollen
- Fever
For third-degree burns, dial emergency services
Third-degree burns from the sun are conceivable, albeit uncommon. Do not wait to dial an emergency number if your skin seems burned, waxy and white, much deeper brown, or elevated and leathery. Without taking off your clothes, raise the burned region over your heart while you wait and shift the garment to prevent it from sticking to the burn.
Conclusion
Sunburn hurts and may have a long-term negative impact on your health and skin. By using sunscreen, covering up exposed skin, and avoiding the sun during peak hours, sunburn can be prevented in the first place. When spending time outside, never forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day. Use moisturizing lotions or aloe vera gel to soothe sunburned skin, use cool compresses or take a cool shower, and take an over-the-counter pain killer like ibuprofen if the pain is really bad. Contact a medical professional for treatment if the discomfort doesn’t go away or blisters start to form.
FAQs & Answers
When should you seek medical attention for a sunburn?
The SCF advises seeking medical attention if you have blisters covering a significant portion of your body, are suffering fever or chills, or feel wacky or disoriented. Call your doctor right away if you see that your sunburn is becoming worse since it might be an infection.
What should I do if my sunburn is more severe?
More active treatment methods, such as corticosteroid creams and oral drugs to minimize inflammation and pain, may be necessary for more severe sunburns. It’s crucial to avoid breaking skin blisters since doing so raises the possibility of infection and scarring. Additionally, until the burn has completely healed, you must stay out of the sun.
How do I take care of a mild sunburn?
Cool showers, baths, or compresses can be used to soothe a minor sunburn. You can also use moisturizing creams and lotions to avoid dry skin, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen. Aloe vera gel might also aid with wound healing. It is essential to limit future sun exposure to stop additional harm.
