It can be easy to get caught up in the beauty of a sunny day or the refreshing feeling of taking a dip in the water and forget to apply or re-apply sunscreen. Sunburns happen to nearly everyone, and they have a tendency to leave skin feeling hot, inflamed and painful.
Luckily, there are some home remedies that you can use to help soothe skin that has been kissed a little too much by the sun.
First, aloe vera gel is an old standby for a good reason: it cools down skin while helping damaged skin cells heal. Try putting the gel or another moisturizer in the refrigerator for added cooling power.
Also, try placing a damp towel or cold compress on the affected area or taking an anti-inflammatory medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce redness, swelling and pain, experts from St. John Providence Health System suggest.
The healthcare provider also recommends cortisone creams to soothe a burn. Use the ointment twice daily for five to seven days.
Avoid using butter - including that derived from plants - or petroleum jelly on sunburns since this may seal in heat and prevent the cells from healing. Also, don't use anything abrasive or heavy in fragrances on a sensitive burn.
An article on Yahoo! Health reports that using skin care products that are rich in antioxidants - like those made with soy or pomegranate - may help promote healing.
Finally, if sun exposure has made dark spots on ethnic skin worsen, skin care products for African American women may be helpful in lessening their appearance.
No comments:
Post a Comment