Of course we all know what we should be doing to prevent sun damaged skin (sunscreen, sunscreen and more sunscreen). But we're only human and sometimes we all have "oops moments" where we forget to apply sunscreen in a certain area or just don't put it on as thick as we think or forget to reapply—so now we're suffering from a fiery sunburn.
Don’t. Freak. Out. We've got the answers to soothing away those burning, red hot spots. Our sun damaged skin treatment starts here:
- If you’re burning bad, pop an anti-inflammatory like Advil, to bring down redness and swelling.
- Stay hydrated by drinking water. The more you drink, the better and cooler you’ll feel.
- For instant cool, coat your skin with pure aloe vera. The gel from an aloe vera leaf is a known skin calmer that takes away stinging and redness. A cream or gel that lists aloe as the top ingredient works too.
- Feel soothed, by soaking in a cool bath. For an extra calming effect, pour in a half a jar of iced-tea mix like Nestea. The tannins in black tea help to draw out the burn.
- Thwart premature aging, by applying a cream or lotion rich in antioxidant ingredients that counteracts UV ray harm. Look for a sun damaged skin treatment packed with green tea, Vitamin E, or resveratrol.
- Stop blisters from forming, by soaking a cotton compress in vinegar and ice and gently applying it to burnt spots. Vinegar is a century-old healing agent that absorbs heat and accelerates the healing process.
- After the initial burning sensation has subsided, apply a body oil with hydrating ingredients, like sea buckthorn, sweet almond or sesame. The rich moisturizers will soften and soothe rough flakes so you’ll feel ready to hit the beach again in no time (though with plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella).
Have you ever had a time when you might have gotten a little more sun than you intended? Tell us about it in the comment section!