Soothe that burn!
Oct 30 '00
Ah, the mistakes of our youth.
Growing up in a beach community in Southern California, a child of the 1970’s, I was a bona fide beach bunny from the time I was out of diapers until I was about 17. I lived for a great day at the beach -- sun, surf and cute lifeguards! In my younger years, I was unaware of the dangers of UVA/UVB exposure, and would slather myself in baby oil or Hawaiian Tropic deep tanning oil in order to make the most of the sun’s rays. Fortunately, with my pale olive complexion, serious sunburns were few and far between for me in my youth.
As I grew older, and learned the dangers of tanning, I spent less and less time in the sun, and lost that golden glow of my younger days. While this was, in fact, a good thing for my skin, my new pale shade of beige made me more susceptible to burning after even minimal exposure to the sun.
Feeling the burn
When I was 17, I moved from the fun and sun of the west coast to the suburban inland that is Atlanta. This of course limited my sun exposure to the 2 or 3 times a year I was able to trek out to the coast. On these infrequent trips, I often ended up suffering the excruciating pain of a severe sunburn. Oh yes, I applied sunscreen, but hours of frolicking and fun in the ocean would wash away the SPF protection, leaving my skin bare and vulnerable to the effects of the sun. And after a few miserable bouts with the horrible burn, I’ve finally found what really works!
What exactly is a ‘sunburn?’
First and foremost, we need to recognize what causes the burn. A sunburn is caused by overexposure to the damaging UVA and UVB rays of the sun. In small doses (15-20 minutes per day), these rays are actually very good for you -- they help your body produce things like Vitamin D, which promotes increased bone density, healthy skin, teeth and hair, and improved morale. However, overexposure causes the skin to go into overdrive and produce melanin. This is the pigment in our skin, and what give us a ‘healthy’ glow. But this is not actually a healthy reaction -- it’s a defense mechanism, as the skin attempts to protect itself from the sun’s rays. With this in mind, we realize that a sunburn needs to be treated much in the same way as a regular burn.
Step one: Bring down the inflammation
Aside from the obvious reddening of the skin, many times a sunburn is accompanied by mild inflammation. This is particularly apparent on face, around the eyes and nose. In addition, the hot, burning sensation on the outside of the body causes us to feel chilly on the inside, and can often result in a low-grade fever.
The best remedy for these symptoms is probably something you already have in your medicine cabinet -- Aspirin! If you have stomach sensitivity, or prefer not to take Aspirin, products containing ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin) will also work nearly as well. This will reduce the fever and ‘chills,’ while also bringing down the swelling.
Step two: Cool the skin/prevent the itch
Now that you’ve taken your aspirin, it’s time to take care of your tender, burned flesh. There are several theories on this topic, and many remedies that will cool the immediate burning sensation. Yet there is only one surefire way to 1.) cool the burn, and 2.) prevent the peeling and itching to follow. And again, it’s something you probably already have in your home. MILK! Yes, milk. Run a lukewarm bath (not too cold, as it will shock the body, and not too hot as it will hurt, and exacerbate the burn), and pour in milk -- fresh or powdered, either one will work. You want to add enough milk to make the water thoroughly cloudy, nearly opaque. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, and then rinse off in a lukewarm shower, using a gentle, moisturizing cleansing gel or soap.
There are also a few varieties of ‘milkbath’ available in popular bath and body stores. They are available in both powdered and liquid formulas, and will quench the skin much in the same way as the real thing. However, try to avoid heavily perfumed and scented varieties, which will only cause further irritation.
Take a milkbath twice daily for the first few days following your sunburn to keep the skin moisturized, and minimize/prevent peeling later on.
Step three: Numb the pain
Following your bath, pat your skin dry, gently, and apply a topical anesthetic. There are dozens of products out there, including Noxema Skin Cream, Bactine Spray, and many others. The key is to look for products containing menthol or other ‘cool’ active ingredients. However, don’t overdo it. If you constantly keep your skin ‘numb,’ you may not realize the severity of your burn, when you may in fact need to seek medical attention.
For those who prefer natural remedies, pure aloe vera gel is the ultimate cure. It cools the skin, creates a protective barrier, and moisturizes the skin. No one knows how to cute your ills like Mother Nature!
Step four: Moisturize
Twice per day, liberally apply a gentle, unscented moisturizing lotion. Again, pure aloe vera gel, or products containing aloe will benefit the skin in two ways. However, hypoallergenic lotions like Curel, Eucerin and Neutrogena will also provide your skin with what it thirsts for.
What about prevention?
By now we all know all too well what the longterm dangers of a severe sunburn are, and we know there is one simple way to prevent this damage -- sunblock/sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. For daily use, find a body lotion with sunscreen, as well as one for your face. Most experts agree that SPF 15 is adequate protection for most people who have limited exposure to the sun on a daily basis. However, for days when you know you’ll be in the sun for more than a few minutes at a time, apply a sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 30. If you intend to sweat excessively, engage in strenuous activity, or if you plan to be swimming, make sure your sunscreen is waterproof. There are many brands of waterproof sunscreen, but one of the best is made by Bullfrog.
Happy Sunning!
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Member: Natasha
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