Spending a day at the beach can be delightful until you realize you’ve overdone the sun exposure, and now you have a nasty sunburn.

Sunburns can range from mild to severe, but they all have one thing in common – they hurt! Sunburn can be prevented by using sunscreen, but if you’ve already got one, here’s what you need to do to handle the pain and care for your skin:.

Soothe the Burn

After overexposure to sun rays, your skin becomes inflamed and red. The skin becomes hot to the touch, and you may experience uncomfortable itching, pain, and even blisters. To soothe your skin, take the following steps:.

1. Cool Down

Take a cold shower or use a damp, cold towel to cool down your skin. Do this for about 15-20 minutes to help reduce the inflammation. Cold therapy reduces the swelling and provides a temporary relief from the pain.

2. Hydrate

When you get sunburned, your body loses fluids, so it’s essential to keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and avoid alcohol and caffeine as they may cause dehydration.

3. Use Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and has a cooling effect on the skin. Apply aloe vera gel on the sunburned areas to help relieve the pain and redness. You can apply it several times a day to help speed up the healing process.

4. Take Pain Relievers

If the sunburn is causing you unbearable pain, you may take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. These drugs don’t cure sunburn, but they’ll help ease the pain and reduce inflammation.

Healing the Skin

After soothing the burn, the next step is to help your skin heal to prevent further damage. Follow the tips below to help your skin recover:.

1. Keep Moisturized

Your skin will be dry and flaky after a sunburn, so it’s important to keep it moisturized. Apply a rich moisturizer to your skin to help lock in moisture.

Look for products that contain ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and vitamin E, which help soothe the skin and promote healing.

2. Avoid Scratching

Your sunburned skin may be itchy, but scratching will make it worse. Scratching removes the top layer of the skin, exposing the layers underneath, which can lead to infection.

If the itch is unbearable, apply a cool damp towel to the area or use over-the-counter anti-itch cream.

3. Don’t Peel the Skin

The temptation to peel the skin after a sunburn is irresistible, but it’s not advisable. Peeling can cause further damage, slow down the healing process, and also increase the risk of infection.

Let the skin peel off naturally, and apply moisturizer to prevent excessive peeling.

4. Protect from Further Damage

After a sunburn, your skin is more vulnerable to the sun’s rays. To prevent further damage, stay indoors, or seek shade, especially during peak hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat, and use sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating.

Conclusion

Sunburn can be painful and uncomfortable, but caring for your skin properly can quicken the healing process and prevent further damage. Stay hydrated, soothe the burn and prevent scratching or peeling.

Guard against further harm by staying in the shade, wearing protective clothing, and reapplying sunscreen often.