Wear loose, light clothing that shields the burned skin from the sun. In addition to following these suggestions, drink plenty of water, take ibuprofen for its anti-inflammatory effects and for pain, and try to give your skin a break from the sun for a few days if you can.
Avoid wearing tight elasticized waistbands and heavy sleeves or slacks when you have a sunburn. Instead, choose light, loose clothing which does not rub against your damaged skin. You will be more comfortable and will heal more quickly.
Management and Treatment
Steps you can take include: Covering your sunburned skin while it heals, especially when outside. Cool, damp cloths may help you feel better. Using topical cooling and hydrating gels and creams like hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel.
To be more comfortable when going to bed, wear loose clothing to prevent excess pressure against sunburned skin. Seek out materials that are light, breathable and soft, such as cotton or silk.
Apply Aloe
Aloe is a tried-and-true remedy that will soothe your sunburn almost instantaneously. This succulent is known for its moisturizing, cooling and anti-inflammatory effects, providing the much-needed relief you are after.
Schaffer advises against exercising if you've been burned. Why? Sweat is saltwater, and salt will irritate your already inflamed skin. “When you're in an acidic type of state, it's going to be harder for you to recover, and when you exercise, you go into a more acidic state because you're burning fat,” Schaffer adds.
Darker colors, such as blue or black, absorb more UV rays than lighter shades like whites and pastels. This means the UV rays are less likely to reach your skin. But bright colors, like red, can also absorb UV rays.
Try an oral antihistamine: Drugs commonly used for allergy symptoms, such as Benadryl, may reduce itching and help a person sleep at night if hell's itch is keeping them awake. Use cool compresses: A cool, wet towel or washcloth can provide relief from the burn and may help ease the itchy feeling.
The signs of a sunburn may not appear for a few hours. It is typically at its worst at 24 to 36 hours after sun exposure and resolves in 3 to 5 days. Ultraviolet rays can also initially cause invisible damage to the skin. Excessive and/or multiple sunburns cause premature aging of the skin and lead to skin cancer.
Second-degree burns (also known as partial thickness burns) involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin. The burn site appears red, blistered, and may be swollen and painful.
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.
Purpura is common in older people. It is called solar purpura because it occurs most often on areas that are exposed to the sun. The bruises bother some people because of how they look. But they aren't serious.
Wear loose, breathable clothing.
It's a good idea to avoid constricting clothing on sunburned areas. “I wouldn't wear something nylon," Dr. Farah says. “But dermatologists really like cotton."
Be sure to moisturize often, as the sunburn has damaged the skin and left it dry and fragile, and drink plenty of water. Your body is sending extra fluids to the sunburned areas, and you'll help the healing process by staying hydrated. Sun damage is cumulative, which means the risks you take last a lifetime.
“A sunburn is the result of acute damage to the skin due to immediate overexposure to UV rays and does not transition into a tan. A tan is a more gradual process that develops as the skin responds to UV and tries to shield it from further harm. ”
A regular shirt made of cotton or polyester can block around 5 to 15% of UV radiation, but that just doesn't cut it for adequate sun protection. You need a sun shirt or other UPF clothing with a UPF 50+ rating.
While versatile and stylish, black absorbs sunlight and retains heat. It can make the color less than ideal for hot weather. Wearing black clothing can increase your body temperature and lead to discomfort. It can get worse when exposed to direct sunlight.
Generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating. If you work indoors and sit away from windows, you may not need a second application. Be mindful of how often you step outside, though. Keep a spare bottle of sunscreen at your desk just to be safe.
Pop an aspirin, ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain and reduce swelling. A hydrocortisone cream can help take the edge off, too. Slather on moisturizer. Whether your skin is newly burned or already peeling, moisturizer helps promote healing.
The symptoms of a sunburn most often appear a few hours after sun exposure. They are often worst at 6 to 36 hours after exposure. The symptoms are short-term (temporary) and go away in 3 to 5 days.
After bathing, gently pat yourself dry but leave your skin slightly damp to help trap the moisture as you apply a moisturizer. 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.