Treating sunburns

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I remember when I was about 10 years old my family lived in L.A. One summer we invited the teenage kids of friends we had out in Colorado to stay with us for a few weeks. They were ecstatic! Coming from their small farming community in the mountains to the big city by the Pacific! The first week they were there my older brother took them out to the beach for a day of fun in the sun.

The day of fun turned tragic, however. My olive skinned brother didn’t realize that a day in the sun affected him differently from the fairer skinned twosome that accompanied him! One of the teenagers had a slight burn on her face, especially her nose. But the boy, he was a mess! His whole body was red and covered with blisters – big blisters! I remember it to this day, some 20 years later!

Being out in the sun is no picnic for those who burn easily. You should always, always wear sunscreen – even if you don’t burn easily or at all. In case you do get burned here are some tips to treating sunburns. Some you may have already heard about, others may be new and innovative. Try them!

1- Drink A LOT of water!

2- Occasionally sponging the burn with cold water will help it feel better.

3- I’ve heard that calamine lotion helps with the itching, but be careful not to apply a lot of creams on the burn – skin will heal faster if allowed to breath.

4- Many people have had success with applying aloe vera directly onto the sunburn. This is because the aloe plant is best known for its healing aloe vera gel, a thin, clear, jellylike substance that can be squeezed or scraped from the inner part of the fleshy leaf. A soothing juice is also made from this gel.

5- Sunburns usually heal quickly. Give it a few days. If the burn is accompanied by a fever or upset stomach it may be a sign of dehydration. Slowly drink water or see a doctor.

What causes a sunburn?

Sunburns occur when the skin is exposed to the burning ultraviolet B rays of the sun. The severity can vary from mild pink with only minor discomfort to severe "lobster-red" burns that blister.

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