Did you get a sunburn? Here’s how to cure it

Article originally published in August 2013.

You have surely noticed: it is hot, even very hot. And if you have a terrace or just live by the sea, it’s a safe bet that you want to enjoy the sun. Of course, it is our duty tell you that sunscreen is your best ally. Despite everything, we know that a sunburn can happen quickly.

Are you already tanned and / or do you have dark skin? You are also affected by this phenomenon so stay tuned and keep scrolling.

What is a sunburn?

A sunburn is simply a skin reaction to prolonged exposure to sunlight. Basically, here’s when your skin burns because you accidentally forgot sunscreen at home, skipped applying it every 2 hours on average, or simply chose to use milking fat as a tanning product. In any case, we don’t blame you, because these are things that can happen to anyone.

But who is responsible for your sunburn? In general, UVBs are to blame, but UVAs are no different as they penetrate deep into the skin. According to the Ameli website, UVA “they damage the elastin and collagen fibers of the dermis and cause the activation of free radicals in the deep cells of the skin, favoring the appearance of some skin cancers”. Just that…

How to recognize a sunburn?

When a sunburn begins to manifest, the skin is usually very red (much like shrimp) and painful to touch. The sensation is that of a burning that does not subside. Good atmosphere, huh! When you touch the burned area, the burn turns white, then immediately turns red. But if you are in the first phase of the game, which lasts an average of 3 to 5 days before resolving …

Second-degree superficial sunburn is characterized by the appearance of blisters (or blisters) after a few minutes or hours. The latter fill with a clear liquid and vanish after an average of two weeks, giving way to the peeling phase that can stain all skin types.

A deep second-degree sunburn damages cells. Blisters also form, but they are not painful. This way we can tell ourselves that if it doesn’t hurt, it’s not a big deal. However, that’s quite a bad sign why it usually means that the nerve endings have been affected. The skin takes several weeks to recover and scars may also appear.

How to treat a sunburn and fix it?

Calmly

When the sunburn starts to take its toll, it can be very unpleasant. To free yourself, don’t hesitate to take a cool shower (but not too much to avoid thermal shock). If you wish, you can also use an atomizer to feel the sensation of heat on you a little less.

Once dry, remember to apply a soothing ointment like the famous Biafine which has the particularity of deeply moisturizing and repairing the epidermis. You can renew its application 2 to 4 times a day.

Accelerating regeneration

Besides Biafine, you can use treatments to heal and rehydrate the epidermis.

To start, you can cut a few pieces of cucumber and place them on the affected area to relieve the burning sensation. If you are not allergic to it, you can also use aloe vera gel (100% from the pulp) to allow the skin to heal. To keep water in the skin tissues and rebuild the skin’s hydrolipid barrier, think of vegetable oils such as jojoba oil or shea butter or even petroleum jelly which offer great results and are occlusive.

Applying the after sun

In addition to prolonging the tan, after sun milk is used to reform the altered hydrolipidic film. This protective barrier prevents the skin from being vulnerable to daily aggressions. It will therefore be useful to apply it at least once a day so that the epidermis becomes tight again.

Drinking a lot

Water represents more than 60% of the body mass. But when you expose yourself to the sun for too long, your skin becomes dehydrated and needs help regaining its balance. The best way to do it? Drink, of course!

When to consult?

Even if in most cases the sunburn can be stopped thanks to treatments that can be lavished on it, it is still necessary to remain vigilant and know when it is time to see a doctor.

First of all, if you are suffering from a superficial second degree sunburn, know that if it is this one reaches more than 10% of your entire body and has a hard time going away despite your best efforts, it is best to consult a specialist.

The same if the blisters are larger than three centimeters and affect areas such as the private parts, buttocks, breasts, insides of the hands or feet or when they start to get purulent or very red.

Finally, if you suffer from constant headaches, confusion, nausea or dizziness… don’t wait to see a doctor!

And when it peels, what do we do?

For starters, not all sunburns come off and that’s good news. However, it is a very frequent and completely normal phenomenon, because this flaking is a sign that the skin is shedding the superficial layers that have been burned to make room for renewal. In this case, the worst thing to do would be to tear off the bits of dead skin, because this gesture slows down the regeneration of the epidermis and can create scars. Yes we know, it is almost torture to resist and yet, you will thank us!

Another thing to avoid: expose yourself to the sun again ! Weakened, the skin needs some rest, because it has been attacked and its hydrolipid barrier has not yet completely reformed. Also for this reason, when you return to the sun even after a very minor sunburn, the skin tends to burn even when it is protected with an SPF 50 … An experience that is not the most pleasant.

To prevent the skin from peeling too much, continue hydrate yourself as much as possibledrink plenty of water and don’t hesitate to apply an emollient cream that helps keep water in the skin tissues.

Now that you are aware of everything, go and drink this glass on the terrace and above all put on sunscreen (even if you don’t expose yourself directly)!

Image credits: photo by Giovanni Diez coming from Pexel.