Sunburn Treatment

At-Home Sunburn Treatment

Most sunburns can be treated at home. If you notice yourself, friend, or family member beginning to burn, immediately get out of the sun. If this is not possible, move to a shady spot and apply sunscreen. Also, cover exposed areas to keep from further irritation.

Relief can also come from anti-inflammatories and pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen. Placing cool compresses on skin can relieve pain. Taking a cool, but not cold, bath can also help sunburned skin. Avoid bath salts, perfumes, or oils because they can further irritate your skin. Using an aloe vera gel or lotion, or other drugstore treatment can help relieve skin. Do not apply butter or oil to sunburns.

Until the sunburn has healed, stay out of the sun and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Dehydration is frequently a by-product of a sunburn. Avoid drinking alcohol because it can dehydrate skin further.

Drugstore Treatments

Sunburn treatments can be found in the aisles of any local drug or discount store. Applying these treatments can help reduce pain and itching, redness, and peeling. Several products are highlighted below.

• Panama Jack After Sun Burn Relief is a gel containing lidocaine, aloe vera, vitamin E, and methol to soothe and cool skin. It is a non-sticky formula.

Several online retailers offer choices between brands, often with rankings or stars to indicate customer satisfaction. The following products can be found at drugstore.com:

• Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Lotion. This non-greasy lotion has aloe and vitamin E to relieve irritation.
• Hawaiian Tropic Cool Aloe ICE Lidocaine Burn Relief Gel. This licodaine and aloe vera gel has a soothing instant cooling effect to relieve pain and heat.
• Neutrogena After Sun Treatment with Natural Soy. This product contains a blend of natural soy, anti-oxidants, and multivitamins for sunburn treatment. The formula reduces flaking, peeling, and redness. It contains moisturizers and is non-sticky.

Walgreens offers similar burn relief products. Several featured items include:

• Hospital Strength Pain Reliving Spray by Dermoplast. This spray offers a no-touch application with lanolin, menthol, and aloe. Additionally, it has anesthetic properties.
• Aloe Vera Spray Gel by Walgreens. This product cools and soothes skin with aloe. It also helps prevent drying and peeling. Massage the gel into skin until absorbed.

Seeking Medical Treatment

Sometimes an at-home sunburn treatment is not effective enough. If your sunburn is extreme, seek medical attention immediately. Signs that you should call a doctor include:

• Dizziness
• Severe blistering with fluid in the blisters
• Confusion
• Headache
• Vomiting or nausea
• Fainting
• Extreme pain
• Possible interference with other skin conditions or medications that require you to avoid sun exposure

Prevention is Key

Preventing a sunburn is the best way to avoid having to treat a sunburn. Sun exposure of any sort can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. Wear an SPF of at least 15 or higher, avoid the sun between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and do not forget to cover your eyes.

When swimming or playing outdoors, remember to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours to keep skin continuously protected. Additionally, clothing and hats can help reduce sun exposure.