Ok, so we're all human, and at times we don't always do the right thing. While you know you should wear your sunblock and limit your time in the sun, sometimes things happen and the next thing you know, you're sporting a miserable, painful sunburn. So…now what?
Here are some hints on caring for your skin if you get sunburned this summer:
- Freeze! The first two days of your burn, apply a cold compress to your skin to soothe the burn. You know that bag of peas sitting in your freezer? Well, pull 'em out and press them onto your lobster-colored skin--it will take away the sting of the burn.
- Medicate! If you're in pain, pop a few ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours to help reduce the pain and inflammation.
- Soothe! If your skin is itchy post-burn, calm it down with a cool oatmeal bath. You can also apply some after sun gels designed to ease your skin and cool you off.
- Exfoliate! A few days after the burn, your skin is going to peel…yuck! To slough off the burnt and peeling layers of skin, use a washcloth in the shower. Just be sure to rub your skin gently. You'll also want to apply your favorite skin lotion as soon as you dry off. Your poor, parched skin needs all the love it can get.
- Treat! Even though your peeling may have stopped, it’s a good idea to keep moisturizing on a regular basis. The sun can really zap the moisture out of you, so you'll need to do everything you can to replace it.
- Prepare! Your motto now should be "once burned, twice shy." You don't want to cause more damage to your skin, so be sure you're applying sunblock regularly and taking precautions to avoid another burn.
