Simple Steps for Sunburn Relief

Now that the sun is shining it's hard to stay indoors, but along with the summer's rays comes summer's painful sunburns. Not wearing SPF or forgetting to reapply it after swimming or excessive sweating can leave your skin feeling burned, irritated and dry. Here are some easy steps you can take to make yourself and your skin feel better after you've spent just a little too much time in the sun:

1. Take a lukewarm bath with oatmeal powder, such as Aveeno, in it to soothe and rehydrate your skin. If you don't have any Aveeno at hand, try adding baking soda to your bath water. Baking soda will also effectively soothe your skin while you soak.

2. Drink plenty of water to replenish the moisture your body and skin have lost during your hours in the sun.

3. Take ibuprofin or acetaminophen in order to reduce the pain and discomfort of your sunburned skin.

4. Make sure to lather on a cooling aloe vera gel if your skin is particularly red and irritated. You can purchase aloe gel at any major retailer and to add to it's efficacy you can store the bottle of gel in the fridge which will make the cooling effect far greater and more effective.

5. After taking a bath make sure you use a light, non greasy moisturizer to soothe and rehydrate your skin. For added relief you can also keep your moisturizer in the refrigerator.

6. If your sunburn is causing your skin to itch apply a thin layer of over the counter hydrocortisone cream which will calm the itching almost instantly.

7. If ibuprofin or acetaminophen aren't quite getting rid of the pain, try using an aerosol pain anesthetic spray. Several varieties can be found in the first aid aisle of your local drug store. Make sure that you buy one that has benzocaine or lidocaine, both of which are excellent numbing agents and will get rid of the pain and burn in an instant.

8. For smaller areas of sunburn you can use an ice pack or a washcloth dipped in cold water for relief. Slices of cold cucumber or potato are also excellent for reducing swelling and irritation caused by sunburns.

9. If you forgot to wear your sunglasses and acquired a sunburn around your eyes, try putting herbal tea bags over them while you lay down. Tea bags that are dipped in cold water make excellent soothers for the area around your eyes and will reduce redness and inflammation.

10. Lavender and vitamin E oils are also excellent skin soothers and have been proven to help aid in the healing of sunburn. Spread some of the oil lightly on your skin after your bath and let it soak into your skin before dressing.

Your best bet to treat sunburn is to prevent it in the first place, but with busy schedules and lots of outdoor activities to enjoy, forgetting our SPF is a normal casualty of summer. With the tips above you should be able to safely and comfortably find relief for your sunburned skin. However, if you find yourself having chills, severe blistering or a red, raised rash, call your doctor for further suggestions in order to avoid heat stroke or infections. Precaution is always your best bet!