How to Most Effectively Treat Your Sunburn

Sunburns are a common problem of summer. Protection and proper care of sunburns can make or break your summer fun. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and has so many important functions. Without healthy skin, many other parts of your body may suffer, so it is important to keep it in tip top shape! Avoiding a sunburn is essential during the summer months for your skin health. If you do suffer from sunburn, it is equally important to treat it correctly so that your skin can heal properly and efficiently.

The ultraviolet rays UVA and UVB are responsible for those painful burns you receive from being in the sun too long. Many times you may not feel the burn until the day has ended and you are trying to relax. All of a sudden you will feel the burning of the sun, even though you are no longer in the sun. Soon you will notice the bright red color of your skin, and then you realize you've got a sunburn. Sunburns are no fun at all, and can make you feel very ill. Some effects of a sunburn can include pain, feeling hot, chills, and tightness of the skin. Some very severe burns may develop blisters and can attribute to dizziness, fainting and dehydration.

There are several things you should do when treating a sunburn. The first thing you need to do is stop the burning. Sometimes the skin continues to burn from the heat that is trapped in it. Cool baths, wet washcloths and loose clothing will help the heat to escape. Once your skin has the opportunity to cool down, the healing process can begin. Keeping the skin moist is important to prevent excess water loss. Pure aloe vera is an excellent choice of moisturizers to apply to the affected area. Be sure the bottle is labeled "pure" aloe vera. Some aloe vera mixtures have many chemicals in them that may irritate your skin and cause more damage to the burned area. The aloe vera gel will help relieve the pain and provide moisture to help your skin heal itself. Another great option to apply to your sunburn is sun protective lotion. Sunscreen or sunblock should have been applied before the burn started, but it can also help after the matter. Applying sunscreen will protect your skin from further damage as well as moisturize your skin to keep it soft and supple. For severely burned spots you may apply 1% hydro-cortisone cream. The hydro-cortisone cream will give your skin a jump start on the healing process as well as alleviate any itching you may experience.

If your sunburn develops into blisters you will need to be extra cautious of them. Do not pop the blisters. Popping the blisters may lead to infection and may cause a scar. It is also important to know that your sunburn will most likely start peeling shortly after the pain is gone. This usually starts 5-7 days after the onset of the sunburn. This is the result of the skin dying from the burn and your body's only way of effectively removing the burn. It is very important to not peel the skin because the skin underneath can be very sensitive and needs time to heal as well. If you or your child feels very dizzy, lethargic, or just doesn't seem to be recovering from their day in the sun, they may be suffering from heat stroke, or heat exhaustion.

If you suspect heat exhaustion or heat stroke, consult your doctor as soon as you can. Sensitivity to light, fever or infected sunburn needs to be assessed. If there is nausea and vomiting or diarrhea, heat stroke may be coming quickly. Remain cool and avoid the sun until you are able to be seen by the doctor. Drink plenty of fluids to prevent further dehydration.

The best treatment for sunburn is prevention. Always wear sunscreen, sunglasses and try to avoid the heat of the day. Sunburns and ultraviolet ray damage have been linked to skin cancer, so it is a very important measure to be taking for yourself and your children.