How to Make a Sunburn Stop Burning
Sunburns are the painful byproduct of too much sun exposure without sunscreen or another type of sun protection, such as hats and cover-ups. Unfortunately, once you have a sunburn, there is very little you can do to heal it or to get rid of the damage. However, there are several steps you can take to decrease the burning sensation a sunburn causes. Once this sunburn has healed, use extra sunscreen and take all necessary precautions to avoid getting another sunburn, which can increase your risk of getting skin cancer.
Instructions
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Take a shower as soon and as often as you are able. A cold shower can help relieve the burning sensation, helping you feel more comfortable.
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Dry your skin off tenderly. Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing roughly with a towel. Place cool cloths on your skin to soothe the sunburned areas as needed.
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Rub on aloe lotion that contains the ingredient lidocaine. Lidocaine will numb your skin a little bit. The lotion will make your skin feel cool and damp.
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Take over-the-counter pain-relief medication to cut pain. Follow all directions on the bottle.
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Drink plenty of water. A sunburn can cause you to become dehydrated, so it is important to drink a lot of fluids.
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Keep burned skin clean and exposed when you are indoors instead of covering up. By keeping the skin exposed, it will be cooler, burn less and heal faster. If you do go outdoors, cover the burned skin so that it is protected from sun exposure that may cause more damage.
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Apply aloe and moisturizing lotions on a regular basis. This will keep you feeling comfortable and relieve the burning as your sunburn heals.
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Tips & Warnings
If excessive pain persists or the skin turns an odd color, see your doctor.
Avoid popping blisters that may appear. Blisters fill with fluid so that they are able to assist healing by safeguarding your injured skin.
References
- Photo Credit Cream with Aloe Vera image by pequliar from Fotolia.com
