Summertime – the fun-packed season, filled with BBQ’s, trips to the park, beach, playing sports and taking holidays abroad. Sounds idyllic… until the sunburn strikes! Unprotected skin can take only minutes to burn, and once you see the tell-tell signs of red skin, it’s already much too late. Despite your very best intentions you may still burn even if you regularly apply SPF. Sweat, water and aggressive wiping can still undo our efforts.
What is sunburn?
Scary as it sounds, sunburn is actually a radiation burn. The sun emits three kinds of UV rays – A, B and C. UVC is mostly harmless being absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere, whereas UVA and B rays travel further and can penetrate the skin, with UVB penetrating the skin’s top layer, the epidermis, and UVA going deeper still and potentially damaging the skin’s actual DNA which can cause the cells to self-destruct.
As the cells in the top layer of the skin begin to detect the DNA damage, they start to attract immune cells to the skin which causes the blood vessels to leak into the space between the cells, resulting in excess fluid and swelling which leads to inflammation, producing the redness, heat and pain associated with sunburn. So the damage has already been done before any skin reaction is evident, with the process and pain peaking some 6-24 hours later. It is this same DNA damage which signals the cells to produce melanin which darkens and tans the skin.
How can you remedy sunburn?
There is no cure for sunburn, however there are several actions that you can do to help optimize the healing process.
- Stay out of direct sunlight until the burn starts to heal in order to prevent further damage. If you must go out, use a high factor SPF, cover up well and wear a hat
- Cool the affected area using a cold compress or take a cool shower or bath. Avoid hot baths or showers which can dry the skin out more.
- Wear loose fitting, light-weight and breathable fabrics to minimize any discomfort. If the sunburn is on the face, throat neck or anywhere that the hair could irritate it, tie the hair back and also remove any jewelry which could cause irritation or rub against it.
- Moisturize well to keep the skin hydrated and limit dryness and peeling.
If the skin becomes badly blistered, you’ve developed second degree burns and should seek medical attention. If you begin to feel dizzy or nauseous or develop a fever or bad headache, visit a doctor immediately as you may have sunstroke which can be very dangerous if left untreated.
Home remedies for sunburn
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is the perfect remedy for sunburn thanks to its composition which includes an amazing array of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, and compounds such as carboxypeptidase, polysaccharides and aloin. It has an instant soothing and cooling effect on sunburn and helps to replace lost moisture, whilst the analgesic properties of carboxypeptidase provides pain relief. Meanwhile polysaccharides actively stimulate skin repair and rejuvenation and, according to studies, aloin can actually help to reduce or prevent peeling skin which is often a consequence of sunburn. Aloe vera has been confirmed as a safe remedy for the relief of mild sunburn by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil when mixed with a carrier oil and applied topically to the skin, provides a cooling and analgesic effect , soothes inflammation, relieves itching and burning, and is also perfectly used in a cold compress. Add to some aloe vera for the ultimate after-sun soother. Reduce the overheated feeling that comes with sunburn with the help of peppermint oil. The feet help to control the body’s temperature, so cool the feet with some peppermint infused cream (mix a drop in with any cream you may already have. Or make a cooling body spritz by diluting a couple of drops of peppermint oil with water, or a carrier oil (try a lightweight oil like argan or grapeseed) in a spray bottle to make a refreshing body spritz.
Sunburn prevention tips
Prevention is better than cure, so follow these steps to prevent sunburn:
- Avoid direct sun exposure between 10am and 4pm when the UV rays are at their strongest.
- Cover up with long loose clothing and a hat and seek shade for sun protection.
- Always apply SPF at least 30 minutes before going outside, and don’t forget your lips, hands and tops of feet. For prolonged sun exposure, use a minimum of factor 15 (depending on your skin type) and reapply frequently or at least every two hours and directly after swimming, excessive sweating or vigorous towel-rubbing.
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Why is sunburn so bad?
Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Statistics show that just five blistering sunburns as a teenager can substantially increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
So don’t let sunburn spoil your summer fun, just follow our tips to ease the pain and start the healing and you’ll soon be back having a blast!
