What to do When You Get a Sunburn

Summer is finally here and with it comes one of the most common skin complaints—sunburn! Summertime is all about soaking up those warm sunny days. However, sometimes your fun in the sun turns into pain, leaving your skin singed and irritated, which is often accompanied by common sunburn symptoms like blisters, redness and painful skin.

Here are the best ways to quickly and effectively treat your sunburn:

1. Act fast to cool down your skin
   To avoid the swelling/burning sensation that usually comes along with sunburns, soak the addicted area in cool water. Try a cool bath, shower, or even a cool compress. Do not apply ice directly onto a sunburn, it will cause irritation.
2. Moisturize your skin when it’s damp
   After a bath/shower apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp. Repeat daily to continue to lock moisture back into your skin. Ingredients like aloe vera or a water-based moisturizer are the best at keeping your skin moist.
3. Keep hydrated!
   Burns tend to draw fluids to the skin’s surface so you may become dehydrated. It is important to rehydrate constantly with water and liquids with electrolytes. Add some lemon, mint, or cucumber to your water for a refreshing treat.
4. Take a pill and relax.
   Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help with discomfort and inflammation. You can also try over-the-counter cortisone cream to decrease redness and swelling. Also wear loose and breathable clothing to avoid irritation.
5. See a dermatology provider.
   Bad sunburns can reach underlying tissues and damage blood vessels leading to blood loss. See the doctor immediately when you experience chills, purple discoloration, or fever. Before the burn spreads further, seek medical attention to avoid the problem to be compounded by an infection.

Stay safe this summer
– from Schweiger Dermatology Group!