Sunburn Treatment
July 8th, 2011 adminTreating a Sunburn
HARRISON, NY- There are two types of sunburn. A burn that is just red is first degree and will heal in a couple days. A burn that blisters is second degree and will take a while longer. The first treatment for sunburn is the nonprescription medications in your medicine cabinet. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin are all good choices. If the pain is severe and your fever remains high, call your doctor. Remember, if you’re treating a child, use aspirin only with a doctor’s approval.
Topical treatments can include aloe vera gel or lotion several times a day to relieve pain and keep your skin moist. A spray-on product is the easiest to apply. Heavy creams that require rubbing the skin a lot can cause irritation and are likely hard to apply because of the pain.
Over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams will help relieve the inflammation and irritation caused by sunburn. Don’t treat sunburn with “-caine” products like benzocaine or lidocaine — these products can irritate your skin because the chemicals in them can cause allergies. Your kitchen is a great source of relief. Wrap ice or a bag of frozen peas in a damp towel for some fast relief. A cool bath made with about a half cup (125 mL) of oatmeal, cornstarch or baking soda will bring down your skin temperature and help relieve itchy, irritated skin. Repeat as needed, but don’t use soap, which will cause more irritation. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it. Adding about a cup of vinegar (250 mL) to a cool bath also helps reduce pain. Be sure to moisturize after these treatments.
