Feel the burn? Follow these tips to care for your sunburn
Fun in the sun is the name of the game when it comes to summer, and here in Arizona it doesn’t take too much time to overdo it.
The signs of a sunburn are pretty obvious, but don’t think all is lost if you feel the burn coming on.
Dermatologist, Dr. Jennifer Linder, says there are few things you can do to lessen the impact of the burn if you catch it early enough.
The first thing to do is to immediately take 800mg of Ibuprofen, and repeat it every four hours.
She says this regimen will calm the inflammation, and may reduce the severity of the burn or relieve the symptoms once the sunburn presents itself.
Secondly, Linder says, products containing a combination of red and brown algae, such as PCA Skin Anti-Redness Serum will help with microcirculation.
These products can also reduce UV-induced inflammation by up to 76 percent.
If this is not a product you have on hand, go for the tried and true products containing aloe vera, and hydrocortisone. They have been used for decades as an effective treatment for sunburns.
Linder says topical analgesics such as lidocaine, found in after-sun products like Solarcaine, will assist in soothing the pain associated with sunburn.
Natural analgesics are also available; look for products that contain willowbark extract, peppermint oil or menthyl lactate.
Of course the best thing to do is to protect your skin from the sun before exposure.
Linder suggests looking for sun protection and soothing topical products that offer antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, vitamin E, resveratrol, soy extracts or silymarin for added UV protection.
According to Linder, these ingredients work differently than sunscreens and help protect the cells from damage caused by the sun.
As if you need another reason to protect your skin, keep in mind, one blistering sunburn more than doubles your risk of developing malignant melanoma; the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Dr. Linder suggests applying enough sunscreen (1 oz. or a shot glass full) to all exposed skin, and reapply every two hours. Seek shade when it’s available.
Copyright 2009 The E.W. Scripps Co.
