Greetings from Healthcare magic members,
Most of the sunburns are irritating and painful but their treatment is primarily symptomatic. Following are some tips that you can follow:
1. Avoid going out in sun for few days to prevent further damage especially during the period of peak UV radiations from 10 am to 4 pm
2. Use simple painkillers such as
ibuprofen (advil) for painful symptoms
3. Keep yourself hydrated- Sunburns dilate your vessels and you lose water from skin at a rapid rate which may lead to
dehydration, fatigue, dry skin and even
heat stroke. Hence, drink lots of water.
4. Do not unnecessarily touch your burnt skin- let it heal, give some time. Peeling burned skin can cause permanent scarring
5. Cool soaks with water or cold water bath will be helpful but avoid fragrant soap to prevent further dryness. You can also put some baking soda in your bath water for soothing effect and soak yourself for 15-20 minutes.
6. Aluminium acetate solution mixed with water will also help
7. Use of
aloe vera gel will also soothe your skin
8. Avoid use topical
anesthetic creams and sprays
9. Always use sunscreen with an adequate SPF (preferably above 30) for a given skin type. Any good brand can be used as far as it is protecting against UVA and UVB rays. Always make sure to apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and continue to reapply after sweating. The sunblocks containing minerals such as
zinc oxide and titanium oxide provide excellent protection. For specific recommendation, you need to
consult dermatologist who will prescribe the sunblock according to your skin type.
10. Also wear garments that protect your skin such as big hats and polarized sunglasses, cloth to protect your face during peak hours in the future.
If above wont help then you might have severe burns that require proper care and treatment by dermatologist.
Hope this answer helps. For any further query or followup questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Regards,
Dr. Khoja