Now that the sun is out, and the heat’s turning up, everyone’s rushing outside to catch a bit of that summerglow. But, if you’re not careful, a summer glow can quickly turn into a sunburn that is painful, itchy, and it might even leave you looking like a freshly picked tomato.
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Preventing sunburns
Even though temperatures have begun soaring, real summer hasn’t even started yet. So, if you want to save your skin from the damages of the sun you need to work on protection from the get-go.
Before heading out the door, sunscreen is a given. If you’re not already slathering your whole body a product that has SPF 30 minimum, along with both UVA and UVB protection, then what are you doing? Without SPF, you are surely going to get scorched in the summer sun. On top of that first application, try to reapply it every few two hours.
Other ways of preventing sunburns is by wearing protective clothing. Cover your face with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. If you’re going to sit outside then try to find a shaded area.
Treating sunburns
Have you still managed to burn your skin, despite taking all these precautions? Then, here are some ways you can treat those burns.
The kind of treatment you should get depends on the degree of your burn, and in severe cases you should definitely see the doctor. But, if you’ve just gotten some redness from the sun and it’s painful to touch, then try to use cooling agents to reduce the heat in your skin. Aloe vera is a great ingredient to calm down redness and inflammation. It will also relieve some of the itching and stinging you feel after getting burnt.
Another topical that you should try out is hydrocortisone cream. It’s an over the counter anti-inflammatory cream that will treat more serious burns. Usually sunburns will heal itself in a few weeks and while your skin is regenerating, try staying out of the sun, continue moisturising your skin, and do not forget your SPF—even if you're indoors!
When you get sunburnt, it’s possible that you might be dehydrated as well. So, make sure to drink plenty of water to replenish your body and skin from the inside.
