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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

All Sun Worshippers Should Know How To Heal Sunburn

By Deborah Lewis


Past generations of sun worshippers thought nothing about hitting the beach in the hottest part of the day and staying until they were baked. Most didn't bother with sunscreen or take the threat of skin cancer seriously. People are more careful today. If you ever stay too long on the beach or at the pool without proper protection however, you are going to need to know how to heal sunburn.

You're probably already burned by the time you notice your skin getting pink. As soon as this happens though, you need to head for a shady spot, preferably inside. The pink tinge will turn to red within hours. Taking a cool shower is one of the best things you can do to get relief. You can also make a compress from a mixture of cold water and baking soda.

Putting lotion on your skin seems like a good idea, but it's not the thing to do immediately after a burn. As your skin heals it will feel dry and itchy. This is the time to rub hydrocortisone or aloe into it. For more severe burns you should see a doctor about a stronger prescription cream.

Natural remedies are often more effective than the more expensive lotions and potions you find in stores. Cucumbers, for instance, are a good source of antioxidants and analgesics. You can turn them into paste by mashing them in a blender and then applying the paste to the affected area. Tea bags are also great for sunburns. There is tannic acid in tea that draws heat away from the body and restores PH. Cider vinegar added to bath water is another natural soother.

Blistered skin is an indication of a second degree burn, which is much more serious. You can wash it with antibiotic creams. When you have large clusters of blisters, applying dry bandages may be necessary to prevent infection. Popping the blisters is tempting, but you should never do it. That increases the chances of infection and will slow the healing process.

Any kind of infection can quickly become very serious. If you have burned skin, you need to look out for signs of increasing pain, fever, and discharge coming from the blisters. Any of these symptoms are worth a visit to the nearest walk-in clinic or, if you have a high fever, a trip to the emergency room.

There are a lot of old wives' tales about healing sunburns that aren't true and can be harmful. It is not true that putting petroleum jelly or butter on a burn will help it. This is something that can make it worse, cause allergic reactions, and increase the amount of time it takes your skin to heal. Over the counter remedies can be effective. Read the label before you use any of them on your skin though.

Sandy beaches and backyard pools are very appealing to a lot of people. They can be a great source of enjoyment and relaxation. Too much time in the glare of the sun can have serious consequences though. It's always better to apply too much sunscreen than not enough.




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