The issue: A painful sunburn
The solution: The best defense is a good offence – prevent getting sunburned in the first place! This means you (and your kids) will:
- Use your SPF 30+ sunscreen
- If sweating or swimming, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours
- Seek shade
- Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sun protective clothing
- Limit outdoor activities between 10am – 3pm
But mistakes do happen….. I bet there aren’t many of us who haven’t wound up red at one time. You skimped on applying sunscreen or you forgot to reapply.
So if you are faced with scorched, sore, red and peeling skin, I recommend:
- Get out of the sun, and stay indoors until you heal (which can take about 1 week)
- Aspirin taken in the first 24 hours helps with inflammation
- Soothe your skin with a cool milk soak. Dilute a bowl of whole milk with some cold water. Soak a clean washcloth in the milk solution, and apply to your sunburned skin for 10 minutes at a time. The fat in the milk has some anti-inflammatory properties.
- Apply pure aloe vera (from the plant or in a commercial fragrance free gel). It feels even better if kept cold in the refrigerator
- If you blister, don’t pop them! They act like nature’s bandage.
- Apply multiple coats of fragrance free moisturizer daily
- If your skin starts to peel, don’t pick!
We know skin!
Let board certified Dermatologist Dr. Karen O’Neill and her team in Mississauga help you achieve healthy and radiant skin all year long.