Treating sunburn O
bviously the safest thing is to prevent sunburn from occuring but if you are unfortunate to have forgotten to
apply or reapply sunscreen and find yourself burnt here are some treatments which may go some way to soothing the pain. • Use the succulent aloe vera plant. Cut it down the length of the leaf and open it, revealing the inner portion. Rub the clear gelatinous part over the burned area. Repeat as often as you like. • Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing that will not irritate the
affected areas. Other materials, especially man-made ones like polyester, can rub very harshly against the skin and make the burn feel much worse. • Use an anti-inflammatory agent. For example, Ibuprofen, if
you have a headache, slight fever or chills. • Use a cool cloth soaked in skimmed milk and rest it on the burned spots. The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort. • Drink water, juice, or sports drinks to replace body fluids. When you have a sunburn, you get dehydrated easily. • Bathe with tepid water and avoid soap on the affected area, which can cause irritation. Sometimes a cool or luke warm shower can take away the pain and itchiness. • Try taking a bath with green tea. The tannin in the tea
draws out some of the pain and can soothe the redness. • You can make a paste from baking soda and a little bit of water and put it on the sunburnt area. Remove when it’s completely dry and starts to flake. May help cool down skin. • Use olive oil. Using olive oil on the sunburn keeps it
moisturized and usually prevents your skin from peeling. rub on the burn until it is nice and moist. Don’t try washing it off right after or it won’t work. Wait a couple of hours until it doesn’t feel as oily to take a bath or shower. • Stay out of the sun until the burn fades. Allow some time for your skin to heal. If your skin begins to peel afterward —a natural part of the healing process—use a non-greasy moisturizer to soothe the area. Do not cover up the peeling section with a self- tanning lotion, because it will stick to the peeling skin and make it look worse. • The next time you are in the sun, wear sunscreen. Try
to use one with high SPF. Should any of these methods cause further irritation discontinue immediately.
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August 2011
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Four Shires HEALTH AND BEAUTY
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