CareNow® - June 08, 2020

Sunburns happen for many reasons despite efforts to avoid them, but CareNow is here to help! Below you can find helpful ways to find relief from sunburn symptoms.

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While sunscreen might be easy to forget to grab on your way out the door, consider this: According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is the most common cancer for women ages 25 to 29.

It is also the second most common cancer for women 30 to 34.

Fortunately, almost all cases of skin cancer can be prevented by simply following a few small steps.

If you do find yourself or your loved ones suffering painful sunburn symptoms, find your local CareNow for help providing relief so you can get back to enjoying your summer!

What Are The Symptoms Of A Sunburn?

If you are suffering from a sunburn, you will experience one or more of the following sunburn side effects:

  1. Skin that is pink or red
  2. Blistering on the skin
  3. Chills
  4. Fever
  5. Nausea or vomiting
  6. Flu-like symptoms
  7. Peeling of the skin

In rare cases, individuals may experience a sun rash, also known as sun poisoning.

This rash may appear as small bumps covering the body, hives or dense clumps of bumps.

Best Way To Prevent A Sunburn?

Most people have experienced at least one bad sunburn in their life.

If you are one of these people, you know how painful it can be.

However, if you take precautions the next time you're out in the sun, you can prevent getting a burn altogether.

By following the advice below, you and your family can spend more time out in the summer weather and less time locked up trying to recover!

Avoid Key Hours

The sun is most potent between the hours of 10am and 4pm. This means:

  1. Outdoor activities should be scheduled before or after.
  2. If you must be outside during peak sun hours, try to avoid direct sunlight.
  3. If you are planning to be in the sun for more than an hour, try to find a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more.

Wear Your Sunscreen

This is repeated so often, there is no excuse.

Protecting your skin with a sunscreen or sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher is essential to protecting against skin cancer.

Why is it Important?

UVB rays, or those that affect the top layers of skin, are the ones that cause sunburn.

UVA rays can lead to:

  1. Premature aging
  2. Skin cancer
  3. Make you susceptible to developing other skin related problems in the future

That’s why sunscreen is crucial.

It’s important to find a broad-spectrum sunscreen since they are the only ones that protect against UVA rays. (All sunscreen protect against UVB rays.)

For women, if you have a hard time remembering to apply sunscreen every day, try using a daily moisturizer with SPF under your makeup.

Wear A Hat

Hats can be stylish and, most importantly, protective during the summer days.

To help cover your hair, face and ears, it’s best to wear a wide-brimmed hat to prevent sunburns.

If you decide to wear a baseball cap, make sure you apply sunscreen (with a minimum of 15 SPF) for best protection.

Look Cool With Your Shades On

UV rays are strong during the summer and it is best to wear sunglasses to prevent harsh exposure to your eyes.

Most sunglasses block UVA and UVB rays from reaching your eyes, this helps prevent cataracts.

Wear your favorite pair of shades to stay protected and look cool all summer.

How To Alleviate Sunburn Pain

If you have ever suffered from a sunburn, you know they are miserable.

Even the most mild sunburns can irritate the skin, causing discomfort for several days after the burn.

Many people wonder how to heal a sunburn, how to stop sunburn pain or how to reduce swelling from a sunburn.

Read below for the best ways to stop sunburn pain.

Keep Your Skin Moisturized With Lotion Or Aloe Vera

There are a few great options to help provide relief from sunburns:

  • Lotion with vitamin E

    These will help your skin heal quickly and shorten the negative effects of sensitive, peeling skin that can result from more severe sunburns.

  • Aloe vera

    This may be the most popular method of caring for sunburns. It’s commonly sold as a gel in most convenient or skincare stores.

    Not only is the gel cool and soothing on your sunburn, but it soaks into the skin and heals it at a deeper level thanks to the presence of aloectin B in aloe vera.

    It’s a natural plant product that can also reduce the amount of peeling after a moderate to severe sunburn.

  • Avoid lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine or lidocaine

    Petroleum can actually trap the heat from your sunburn in your skin (and you certainly don't want that!).

    Benzocaine and lidocaine are also known to bother or further irritate your skin and prevent quick recovery.

Over The Counter Painkillers Can Reduce Inflammation And Pain

Over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are great for helping you get through the pain of a sunburn.

You should only take painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs if other remedies don’t ease the pain.

  • Avoid Soap

    When your skin is dry and flaky, it’s best to avoid soap as it soaks away the moisture from your skin.

    You want to keep your skin moisturized to help heal the affected areas.

    Use skin moisturizers to help build moisture for quicker recovery.

  • Cold Compress And Baths

    We all know that uncomfortable feeling we get from bad sunburns.

    Preparing a cold, wet towel or soaking in cold water can help relive some of the stinging.

    Place the compress on your burn for 10 to 15 minutes at least three to four times a day.

    This will help remove some of the heat from your skin.

Most Importantly, Stay Hydrated

When your skin is overheated from a sunburn, your body needs water to cool back down.

Instead of turning to sugared sodas, caffeinated drinks, or alcoholic beverages, choose good old water to hydrate you best.

Water can help you heal from the inside, so drink plenty of H2O if you are sunburned.

CareNow® Is Here To Help

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Be smart this summer. Protect yourself and your skin from harm. If you experience severe sunburns and need treatment, consider visiting your local CareNow®.

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Open after the hours and on the weekend, we are your go-to spot for urgent care and other medical needs.

Don’t forget to check in online and to wait from home before your visit.

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Disclaimer: Patients’ health can vary. Always consult with a medical professional before taking medication, making health-related decisions or deciding if medical advice is right for you.