As soon as you notice that you have a sunburn, with very red skin or bubbles, you should immediately get out of the sun, staying in a cool place and in the shade. If you are still at the beach, take a dip in the sea or go to the shower to cool your skin and then return to a covered place, such as a bar or kiosk.
The ideal is to return home as soon as possible, to be able to take care of the skin with the appropriate products, but still on the beach, in the river or in the pool, after cooling the skin you can apply the sunscreen itself, to keep the skin protected and hydrated.
When you get home you should take another shower, letting the fresh cold water fall on your body, avoiding using soap. If possible, let the body dry naturally, or use a soft towel without rubbing the skin, but gently pressing the towel all over the body to absorb the water. Then apply a cream or ointment suitable for skin regeneration.
Best sunburn creams and ointments
Some great options for creams and ointments that can be applied to the skin in case of sunburn are:
- Caladryl, moisturizing lotion that can be bought at the pharmacy or drugstore; Bepantol for the redest areas; Cream with 1% cortisone, such as Diprogenta or Dermazine; Water paste exactly on top of the bubbles, taking care not to burst; refreshing sun from aloe vera.
It is also important to drink lots of water to rehydrate the body, avoid the sun and wear loose clothing to relieve discomfort. To combat itching, you can take a cold shower and apply a lot of moisturizer to the affected areas, because when scratching the skin, the burn bubbles can burst causing more pain.
The chances of having a skin cancer, like melanoma, which is severe, doubles when you have 5 sunburns and that is why it is very important to protect your skin from the sun, avoiding exposure in the hottest hours of the day, using sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended to go to the emergency room if you or the child has large blisters, in case of fever, chills, headache and difficulty in thinking, because these signs may indicate heat stroke, requiring medical treatment.
When the skin starts to peel, in the next 6 to 8 days, what can be done is a homemade exfoliation to remove the dead cells. Just mix half a glass of sweet almond oil with 2 tablespoons of crystal sugar and rub all over the body, using circular movements, and take a shower afterwards. You should also avoid sun exposure and protect new skin with a good sunscreen.
