The sun is shining and you’re on vacation! The beach, the pool, the sightseeing – all of it sounds so perfect. But if you’ve got a sunburn, that perfect scene quickly becomes less enjoyable.
What’s worse than a sunburn? A sunburn you get while on vacation! Unfortunately, this is all too common. But there are ways to deal with it and the discomfort that comes with it.
How do you deal with your uncomfortable sunburn while still having fun? Read on for some tips on how to handle this common problem.
The summer months are filled with sunshine and vacations which can be great for many people but not necessarily for those who have sensitive skin or an existing condition such as rosacea or lupus (which can make them more susceptible to UV damage).
Ways to Boost Your Sunburn Recovery
If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things that may help ease your discomfort:
- the first step is to cool off with an ice pack or place wet cloths on your skin as soon as possible after being exposed to sunlight. You want these methods because they’ll help reduce redness and swelling so that it doesn’t get worse overnight while you sleep.
- after cooling down for about 20 minutes, use aloe vera gel (or another product containing natural ingredients) and moisturize.
- put aloe vera gel or lotion all over the area that was burned. This will help cool down the burn and soothe any pain in addition to providing relief from itching, peeling, swelling, and redness.
- drink plenty of fluids including water, coconut water, sports drinks, or other electrolyte-replenishing beverages to replace lost fluid due to sweating or fever from the inflammation process.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin or naproxen
Sunburns are a common summer injury with a lot of people getting them. If you’re planning to travel this summer, here’s how to take care of sunburn when you’re away from home. However, it is not always easy to recover from one and many individuals may need assistance in doing so. Luckily, there are some things that you can do at home that will help you get back on your feet quicker than expected.