Many of us have been left lobster red and squealing in pain as a result of falling asleep on a deckchair on a hot afternoon.
But despite it being a yearly occurrence, many of us don’t know the best way to deal with sunburn.
As we all know, sunburn dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer.
But how can you deal with the immediate fall-out of too much sun?
Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist from the British Skin Foundation, says acting quickly, dosing up on painkillers and moisturising will help.
She also advises never popping blisters and urges seeking medical advice if you suffer nausea, dizziness or severe pain as a result of catching the sun.
Here, writing for the medical blogging site The Hippocratic Post, she shares her best tips on relieving discomfort…
For those already affected, moisturising and dosing up on painkillers will help to soothe the pain of sunburn
ACT QUICKLY
Get out of the sun, cover up the affected areas and stay in the shade until your sunburn has healed.
Wear loose cotton clothing that allows your skin to “breathe” over the sunburnt areas.
TAKE OVER THE COUNTER PAIN RELIEF
Analgesia or painkillers can help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation caused by sunburn.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are ideal and should be continued for a period of at least 48 hours so long as it can be.
Paracetamol will help with pain but has little effect on inflammation.
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COOL THE SKIN
Apply a cool compresser to the skin e.g. a towel dampened with cool water for 15 minutes, or take a cool bath or shower.
Aim to keep the temperature just below luke-warm.
Make sure the shower has a gentle flow of water rather than being on full power.
If blisters are starting to develop, then a bath is preferable.
Do not rub your skin with a towel, but gently pat it dry when you get out.
LEAVE BLISTERS ALONE
Try not to pop them as this can lead to infection and scarring.
They will settle by themselves after a few days.
In the meantime, treat the skin gently.
MOISTURISE
Use an unperfumed cream or lotion to soothe the skin after a bath or shower.
Repeated applications of this are necessary to reduce the appearance of peeling and this may need to be continued for several weeks.
Aloe vera or soy containing gels or lotions can be beneficial in soothing the skin.
Aloe vera not only has a cooling effect on the skin but also acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Be wary of using creams or lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. These can either trap heat in the skin or cause local skin irritation.
STAY HYDRATED
Sunburn can encourage fluid loss through the skin. Drinking plenty of water will prevent dehydration and help your body recover.
Alcohol should ideally be avoided during this time, as it will make dehydration worse.
Never pop blisters and seek medical advice if you suffer nausea, dizziness or severe pain from sunburn
USE MILD STEROID CREAM
Creams such as 0.5-1 per cent hydrocortisone for 48 hours. It may decrease pain and swelling caused by sunburn and speed up the healing process. This is best avoided in small children.
WEAR BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN
Wear at least an SPF 30 suncreen which offers UVA and UVB protection to look after your body’s largest organ.
Avoid the midday sun and wear protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses to limit the skin’s exposure to UV radiation. Your skin will thank you for it in the long run.
In an ideal world, preventing sunburn remains key to maintaining skin integrity and health.
Not only does sunburn cause short-term discomfort, it also has a number of well-recognised long-term consequences including the development of future skin cancers and risk of premature ageing.
This article has been reproduced with the permission of The Hippocratic Post.