Unfortunately, no product can actually “cure” sunburn as your body has its own healing process which it needs to go through. However, after sun works to help repair the skin and to minimise the pain and inflammation we often associate with sunburn, which is why we recommend using after sun for sunburn.
In short, yes, after sun is great for your skin. When you've been exposed to the sun forlong periods of time, your skin will be crying out for the moisture a good-quality after sun lotion will provide. You can maximise the efficacy of your after sun by jumping into a lukewarm or cool shower or bath before you apply it.
Having a luxurious after sun on hand can make all the difference. An after sun lotion or soothing body butter nourishes your skin after a day in the sun. Making after sun part of your daily routine on holidays, or just whenever out in the sun, can increase the chances of keeping your skin-loving healthy glow.
Benefits of Aftersun on your skin
Aftersun products provide immediate relief as well as several long-term skin benefits. They work immediately to reduce redness and inflammation caused by sun exposure, providing a soothing sensation. This rapid response aids in the relief of sunburn discomfort.
After sun cream is formulated to contain soothing, anti inflammatory, repairing and moisturizing ingredients. But you will not see such a great difference compared to using a normal body cream for dry skin.
“After-sun formulas tend to have rich, thick consistencies containing oils, which create an emollient barrier on top of the skin trapping in the heat in the upper layer of the epidermis and exacerbating the inflammation and 'burn' feeling on your face,” Michaella Bolder, Time Bomb skincare expert tells to The ...
After sun is designed specifically for moisturising skin after exposure to the sun. Full of soothing ingredients, it rehydrates the skin along with reducing any redness or inflammation. Ingredients such as aloe vera work wonders for replenishing any moisture that has been lost from exposure to the sun's UV rays.
If you're dealing with sun damage, after sun can be applied as often as necessary. It's important to ensure that damaged or burnt skin is kept moisturised and hydrated to avoid peeling. However, once your skin has healed, it's best to reduce your usage by applying it just once a day.
So when my partners mum asked me this question I explained to her that yes, aftersun lotions are just the same as moisturisers… but they usually contain more 'actively' soothing ingredients (aloe, bisabolol, allantoin…) than a standard moisturiser.
The best aftersun application would be after showering, as washing off sun lotion first and massaging into damp skin will help your skin to lock in more aftersun hydration. To keep your skin super hydrated, you may wish to apply hyaluronic acid before using aftersun. This helps your skin to draw in even more moisture.
The best cooling effect!
I placed the After Sun Gel in the fridge before I hit the beach and when I came back pink I was instantly reaching for it. The cooling effects were felt instantly and took away that hot, itchy feeling and lasted for hours.
An aloe vera lotion or gel or calamine lotion can be soothing. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying. Avoid products made with alcohol. Drink extra water for a day.
Stay moisturised & hydrated
This can be done using an aftersun cream or spray. Lotions with aloe vera can have a cooling effect on the skin. Be careful with creams or lotions that are made from petroleum jelly. They can either trap heat in the skin or irritate the skin.
After Sun is specifically formulated to treat the skin after exposure to the sun. It contains ingredients in higher concentrations than regular moisturisers, such as moisturising, repairing and soothing agents that not only moisturise but repair sun damage and soothe irritation and redness.
If your skin is feeling very dry after sun exposure, we recommend our thicker CeraVe Moisturising Cream for the body. The rich formula can be used in the daytime, or as our best night cream for sun exposed skin.
It's best to avoid petroleum-based moisturizers because they can trap heat and worsen the sunburn. Instead, use a light moisturizer (a lotion or gel) that contains aloe vera or soy. “Aloe and soy have antioxidant properties, which can speed up the healing process,” Dr. Zubek says.
The fingertip test. Fingertip test for checking that skin blanches which is a normal skin reaction. Skin that does not blanch when gently pressed is damaged. Remove finger and there should be a blanched (pale) area where the finger was.
If your sunburn is peeling, that means it is healing. This can be an itchy, somewhat painful process—but in some rare cases, the itch can be taken to a whole new level. This is known as hell's itch, or the devil's itch, which can feel like a deep, painful, throbbing itch that lasts for a few days after sunburn.
Do you really need aftersun? Yes. Especially if your skin is feeling dry, uncomfortable and red. Aftersun works to cool stressed skin while delivering a dose of much needed hydration that doesn't trap heat radiating off your skin.
There are upsetting scenes, which include a man crying uncontrollably; the scene supports other discreet indications in the film that the character has mental health issues and has ideated taking his own life. This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
Aftersun is an example of a recent film that succeeded with public funding. It received funding from both Screen Scotland's Film Production and Development Fund (£350k), as well as BFI (£920k) and BBC Film to fuel its £2.2M budget.