How To Treat a Sunburn

At from Price Skincare Clinic in Ridgeland, Mississippi, we see cases of sunburn year round – but never more than in the summer.

Outdoor activities get us out more often so we expose ourselves more to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

To prevent sunburn, you should always wear sunscreen and proper clothing (including a hat and sun glasses) and stay indoors between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm – the sun’s harshest hours. To see more tips on sunburn prevention click here.

But if you do feel your skin stinging from a burn, you should get out of the sun immediately and follow these tips from from Price Skincare Clinic in order to prevent further pain, discomfort and skin damage.

Tip #1:
Taking cool baths/showers will help relieve the pain. Just take care to gently pat yourself dry, leaving a bit of water on your skin. Apply some moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin, which can ease the dryness.

Tip #2:
Use a moisturizer containing aloe vera or soy. If an area of your skin is especially painful try a non-prescription hydrocortisone cream. However, don’t treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine), as these may irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.

Tip #3:
Try aspirin or ibuprofen to help reduce swelling and discomfort.

Tip #4:
Drink plenty of extra water to help prevent dehydration.

Tip #5:
If your skin produces blisters, don’t pop them. Allow the blisters to heal. A blister means that you have a second-degree sunburn and the blisters form to help heal your skin and protect you from infection.

Tip #6:
If you go back out in the sun take extra care to protect your sunburned skinned while it heals. You don’t want to make it worse by burning the skin even more.

Following these tips after suffering sunburn should minimize the pain and promote healing of the affected skin. If, however, your sunburn is severe and these tips aren’t sufficient, we recommend making an appointment with your doctor just to be on the safe side.