It’s already July and it’s officially hot out there. If you aren’t already protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, what are you waiting for? Whether you use daily moisturizer with SPF, lather on sunscreen before heading out, or cover your body and seek shade, there are plenty of ways to keep your skin from burning to avoid the long-term effects of the sun.
The best way is to avoid sun exposure as much as possible, but we know that’s not always practical. Months of staying indoors makes the idea of long neighborhood walks, gardening, or simply enjoying family time in the
yard all the more appealing. So, if you must take the risk (while social distancing, of course), we’re here to help you deal with the short-term consequences of too much sun exposure: sunburns. It happens to the best of us, but there are a few steps you can take to heal sunburns even faster and make them more tolerable in the meantime.
Here are some of our after-sun tips to treat your sunburnt skin:
Tip 1: Moisturize but Don’t Over Moisturize
It’s important to hydrate your skin so it can heal, but you don’t want to overdo it. By lathering on too much lotion, you can actually trap heat on the skin keeping it from healing as quickly. Just reapply a light moisturizer every 4 hours.
Tip 2: Stay Hydrated on the Inside and Outside
One of the tricks with treating a sunburn is to lower your body temperature. There are two ways to do this: Drink plenty of cold water to replace lost fluids and rehydrate your body; take a cold bath or shower. By cooling the skin down, you can reduce pain and discomfort too. For an added bonus, try taking a milk bath. The pH, fa, and protein content can reduce inflammation.
Tip 3: Use Smart Skincare Products
You’ll want to avoid any products that can be irritating to the skin, such as those with alcohol, exfoliants, dyes, and fragrances, or with antihistamines. Instead, opt for natural aloe or organic skincare products with DNA repairing enzymes.
Tip: Avoid the Urge to Peel
It may be difficult for some, but please don’t peel or pick your sunburned skin. The skin will shed as it heals. Peeling it can damage skin and create scarring. After a week, you can gentle scrub flaking skin. Also, leave those sun blisters alone. They form to help protect healing skin and reduce the chance of infection. Allow it to drain on its own.
Most importantly, sunburns are completely avoidable. Take care of your skin and avoid long-term effects like skin cancer.
For any questions about your skin, schedule an appointment at The Derm Group online or by calling 973.571.2121. We are open and ready to safely welcome you.