Help with a sunburn

DJDUFFY

I went swimming yesterday and did at least 8 laps in pool then laid out in sun for 5 minutes to dry off and well i got sunburned.Does anyone have an idea what i can put on it that will help with the pain?I tried ice packs,Aloe Vera Gel and nothing is helping.I can't exercise with this pain today and i want to lose the weight,What do i do?

lilmissy2

Some of my friends back in Australia swear by sliced tomatoes... not kidding! I've never tried it though.

MCDerin

As odd and gross as it sounds, vinegar helps cool it down a lot.
I actually just posted an article about this on my FB fanpage a few weeks agao...here are some other ideas.
Just keep it moisturized!!!!
http://tipnut.com/sunburn-relief-home-remedies-over-50-soothing-treatments/

TheMaidOfAstolat

I was about to suggest aloe but since you've already tried that...if it's possible try a lotion that is infused with calendula (I make my own and I'm not sure if you'll be able to find one comercialy made). Vitamin E oil may also help heal your burn but it will not take away the pain. Take an aspirin for the pain.
Next time make sure you use a high level spf. Use it every day even if you think you're going to be fine. I try to use a 55 or higher every day....better safe than sorry.

traceysturn

Soak a towel in vinagar & cool water. Ring it out & lay it on the sunburn. It works - I swear!

pressica

I have also soaked a towel or washrag in vinegar and just laid it on my burn. It really does help even though I can't tell you the science of why. It also feels refreshing on your skin. Best of luck. I can really empathize.

xarrium

I'm not sure if the chlorine from the pool (if it's chlorinated) will irritate the burn, but it seems to me that swimming would be a decent way to workout with less pain than something like running. My standby is tons of aloe gel (some brands come with menthol added to the gel which helps keep the burned area feeling cool).

jamiesgotagun

Soak a towel in vinagar & cool water. Ring it out & lay it on the sunburn. It works - I swear!

This works the best, I have super fair skin and have used this many times!!!! Good luck!!

godblessourhome

a cotton ball soaked in vanilla will help soothe a burn too. plus it smells yummy.

pinksharkattack

Take advil! And I would try some of the topical options other people have suggested too. I am crazy pale and when I get sunburned I take advil and continuously apply lotion with aloe in it.

Glitter_pumpkin

I had the same problem, my mom told me to put yogurt on all the pink spots and leave it on for a 20 minutes to a half hour then rise it off with cold water and take a long green tea bath. It really helped a lot and made the sun burn go away faster. Good luck.

Chenoachem

I have heard black tea on the burn helps.

oats4breakfast

It's a burn (just like fire or hot oil etc), so you simply have to keep it moist, cool and allow it to heal. Try wetting a towel and leaving the towel on the burn(s) for extended periods of time. Ice packs (wrapped in towel) will help and the aloe vera is also a good idea. Whatever you do though, don't rub oil based moisturizer into it.... that could fuel the burn (the oils/fats).

If you can handle the pain, I always like to stand under a cold shower for a period of time. It will hurt/sting like crazy to begin with, but after a while, it will go numb and feel better (just like when you burn your finger on stove).
I'm originally from NZ where we'd routenely get burnt to a crisp when younger (haven't heard about tomatoes ..... but they are australians afterall). You just have to be more carefull before hand. Sunscreen .. sure ...that works well. But hat and T-shirt/coverups absolutely. Around the water the sun burn/glare will be magnified.

When/if it blisters, try not to break/pop them. Let them heal and apply typical remedies to them. It's going to suck but you have to sleep in the bed you made.
When it peels, resist the temptation to peel the skin off. What usually happens is you peel some skin off, and think that was cool, let me try some more. Then you end up peeling off a piece that was still attached. It can hurt and take longer to heal ... as well as make your skin colour patchy.

If it's really really bad. See a doctor.

oats4breakfast

Oh yea, the most important thing. Stay ultra hydrated. Get even more water down you that what you may already be taking. If you think water intake during exercise and dieting is excessive ... that's nothing compared to the water your body will need when a large portion of your body is burnt/lacking moisture.

DJDUFFY

Thanks everyone for the Ideas.I will try the vinegar and see if that works.I am drinking alot of water.All i got was 2 hours sleep due to this pain so i hope the vinegar helps.Thanks everyone. :flowerforyou:

DebiLou1954

I use Witch Hazel for any burns or bites - Works great!!

fxdl2k2

Advil is great for the inflammation and pain. Topically, aloe is the best. Look for a gel with a high concentration of aloe. Avoid heavy lotions. Good news, it only lasts for a couple of days. I always use SPF of 50+.

Feel better!

leavinglasvegas

First, the aloe vera is the best way to go. It is NOT going to make the pain go away. Sounds like you are pretty badly burned. Take it easy, sunburns can be very serious. Don't exercise untill you can do it comfortably. Clothes, sweat, more sun, they will only irritate it more. You may not see the visible damage for 15-25 years. But you will have damage. You know how people think wrinkles are a part of aging? 90% are actually caused by sun damage and have nothing to do with aging.

Try soaking in a cool bath of oatmeal. Not the oatmeal in your kitchen, lol. Try Aveeno oatmeal bath. Follow that up by slathering aloe vera all over.

Don't use just any lotion either. Check the ingredients. Anything containing SD alcohol will not only irritate the heck out of your sore skin, but it is extremely drying. It totally defeats the purpose of moisturising. Use a natural oatmeal based lotion. Oatmeal is a miracle for the skin.

Try an ibuprofen for pain. It is anti-inflammatory. It will keep the inflammation down while easing the pain.

In the future remember this. Even if its not a sunny day, even if you have dark skin, even if it is the dead of winter... UVA and UVB rays still penetrate and cause damage. Especially on cloudy days, they become "trapped" in a sense. Its not just the sun you need to worry about. We all, regardless of skin color, need to use Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen every time we are outside. No matter if its cloudy, rainy, or winter. Sun damage, like I said earlier, is not always visible right away. But it is going to be. Whether its wrinkles, freckles, or "liverspots" when we are old.... its all from the sun.

So, my advice to you:
Rest and stay hydrated
Take ibuprofren for pain
Take oatmeal baths
Use the heck out of some aloe vera
Avoid SD alcohols and opt for natural oatmeal lotions.
Use a Broad Spectrum UVA AND UVB Sunscreen. (Slather it on! Most people don't use nearly the amount that is needed to achieve the SPF that the sunscreen actually contains)

KS1980

My wife had a bad sun burn from her trip to Jamaica and it was so bad her feet swelled up to the point she couldn't fit them in her flip fops. So I picked up some aloe and Solarcaine sunburn spray. Solarcaine looks very generic,but she said it was best thing ever. So that might be worth trying if you havent yet.

aippolito1

Keep using the aloe vera. 2-3 times a day, it WILL help.

leavinglasvegas

You can also get a spray bottle and fill it with witch hazel and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Keep it handy and give your skin a spray every so often to keep it hydrated and cool. That will also help with the pain.

heathersmilez

So many tips which to choose! Vinegar/water cloth is a neat idea - I think I'll try that in the future but fingers crossed I wont have to.

I wish I posted about my sunburn a couple weeks ago for tip like this. I put on block 2x but my tummy got burnt on vaca - guess it doesn’t see the much sun lol and my legs burnt a week before that even while not horizontal (they were at 90 degree angles sitting legs in the pool, guess the suns rays really do reflect off the water) and I couldn’t exercise b/c of the tightness in my legs - the tummy burn didn't affect exercising, I stayed away from sit-ups.

I just wore skirts to work everyday so that I could apply aloe on my legs frequently w/o getting all sticky. I used body lotion on the tummy when getting dressed. Works the same as aloe w/o the stickiness.

SayRah

I have some J/A/S/O/N organic aloe vera gel. It's AMAZING. Just keep up with that 3x a day and you'll be grand.

DJDUFFY

Vinegar helps a little,I put Aloe Vera on 4 times a Day.Thanks everyone for the advice.

Dusty73085

I am in the same boat. I got sun burnt this weekend also.

Mine isn't painful all the time, but only when I put some thing on it (aloe or lotion). The aloe worked for me the first few days, but now I am peeling slightly, so it makes me itch like no other. I also can't work out because the sweat makes me itch some thing awful. I feel anxious not being able to do my usual workouts.

Does anyone know of anything that will stop the itching? I haven't tried vinagar...now that I am peeling slightly, I'm thinking it's not such a good idea.

I have heard of soaking white bread in milk (the fattier, the better) and laying that on the burn. I haven't tried it myself tho.

leavinglasvegas

I am in the same boat. I got sun burnt this weekend also.

Mine isn't painful all the time, but only when I put some thing on it (aloe or lotion). The aloe worked for me the first few days, but now I am peeling slightly, so it makes me itch like no other. I also can't work out because the sweat makes me itch some thing awful. I feel anxious not being able to do my usual workouts.

Does anyone know of anything that will stop the itching? I haven't tried vinagar...now that I am peeling slightly, I'm thinking it's not such a good idea.

I have heard of soaking white bread in milk (the fattier, the better) and laying that on the burn. I haven't tried it myself tho.

OATMEAL! Seriously, oatmeal is amazing on the skin! It is soothing, healing, moisturizing, and completely natural.

Dusty73085

Will oatmeal lotion work the same way?

I got some Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion but that made me itch as much as the aloe.

Chenoachem

Oatmeal baths work. Not sure about oatmeal lotion.

leavinglasvegas

Sometimes when the skin is healing it can itch. But oatmeal is great for the skin. It is actually used for itchy skin, bites, etc.

We use oatmeal masques on clients who have dry skin, mature, skin, and sunburned skin when giving facial treatments. Especially on clients who go tanning or spend alot of time in the sun. It is very soothing and healing.

Try the oatmeal bath.... those are for sunburnes, poison ivy/oak/sumac, chicken pox....

If you are so badly burned that you can't use anything recommended, you should most certainly talk to you physician. (Chances are, he'll perscribe a lotion that contains pharmeceutical grade oatmeal)