Nothing compares to the sense of liberation that summer’s leisurely days bring. But a day in the sun, especially at the beach, can come with an awful sunburn that can result from neglecting to properly apply sunscreen. Even while the pain in your skin may not make you think of moisturizing it, we assure you that doing so will speed up your recovery from a sunburn.
What is Sunburn? Why is it Bad for your Skin?
When the sun’s UV rays hit the top layer of your skin cells, it causes a sunburn, a type of radiation burn that can cause intense stinging, itching, redness, and sometimes blistering. Additionally, excessive sun exposure might change the genetic makeup of your skin cells, raising your risk of skin cancer.
The depth and size of the afflicted region of skin determine the severity of a sunburn, which ranges from mild to severe. When only the outer layer of your skin is harmed, it is referred to as a first-degree burn. By using a moisturizing lotion or using aspirin or ibuprofen, it can be eased. A second-degree sunburn, caused by UV radiation damaging deep layers of your skin, is possible. This typically causes more discomfort and requires more time to heal. As a result, your skin may develop redness, swelling, and blisters. Blisters that break the skin’s surface can further delay skin healing and raise infection risks.
It’s crucial to treat sunburned skin as soon as you can. This is a crucial step in promoting skin healing and accelerating your recovery. You can use aloe vera gel and other treatments to relieve a slight sunburn. However, we advise calling a doctor for medical attention if your sunburn is so bad that it is blistering.
How to Care for Sunburned Skin
Your skin may need a few days to recover fully from a sunburn. You might observe that your skin appears a little puffy, rosy, or red. It could be warm to the touch and might also hurt. Take a chilly bath or shower to get relief from a sunburn right away. The water can relieve some of the excess heat while also soothing your irritated skin. But don’t entirely dry off. Apply a moisturizer after that to assist your skin retain a little more moisture. Continue moisturizing your skin as necessary to maintain it comfortable and healthy.
Take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, to ease the pain if your sunburn is painful. The swelling, itching, and redness can also be lessened with the aid of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Peeling skin is an indication that your body is attempting to recover and shed the injured skin’s outer layer. Even though it can be tempting to poke at it or scrub the deteriorating skin, try to restrain yourself. Let it heal naturally and continue to moisturize your skin as it peels off. The same is true with blisters; popping them can delay the healing of your skin and raise your risk of infection.
Does Moisturizer Help the Healing Process?
The melanin that gives tanned skin its color can be produced more readily by exposure to the sun’s rays. In reality, tanning is only a lovely side effect of melanin’s primary function, which is to absorb and diffuse UVA and UVB rays at the cellular level. Sunburn is the result of melanin’s inability to absorb all of the radiation that can reach the skin. Skin that has been overexposed to the sun can become sore, bloated, and inflamed within a few hours. Second-degree burns can result in blisters, but this is the skin’s defense mechanism against infection. A side consequence of blister and sunburn recovery is dry, flaking skin. Moisturizers are among the greatest natural therapies for the condition.
Ingredients to Consider when Choosing a Moisturizer for Sunburned Skin
The drying of the skin is one of the symptoms of sunburn. Antioxidants are depleted, and the lipids in the skin are destroyed. A loss of moisture results from the destruction of lipids. Moisturizing your skin becomes even more crucial in order to combat the drying effects of the skin. You might hesitate to use moisturizer since your skin will feel sore and swollen. Although you should be concerned, the best thing you can do for your skin is to pick a moisturizer that will make your sunburn less painful.
1. Vitamin E
Even though there are many moisturizing treatments available, just a small number of their ingredients have been shown to be effective for treating sunburn. According to research, Vitamin E relieves dry, flaky skin, keeps the skin hydrated, and lessens sunburn-related stinging and itching. As an anti-inflammatory, vitamin E soothes and moisturizes sensitive skin while also repairing the inflammatory damage caused by UV exposure. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant. In the skin, UV light causes mutations that can result in skin cancer and premature aging; however, antioxidants can mitigate some of this harm.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has a ton of benefits that you might not even be aware of and contains anti-inflammatory qualities that are healthy for your skin. It is preferable to utilize an aloe vera plant if you have one in your home because it is all-natural. Aloe vera-based lotions help soothe your skin, lessen inflammation, and delay peeling.
4. Soy Milk
Oatmeal is another time-tested remedy for sunburns that medical professionals still advise. Oatmeal is described as “an excellent product for sunburn,” and it can be applied as a compress on damaged skin when combined with cool milk. Soy milk has natural anti-inflammatory properties and calms the skin after exposure to the sun. Oatmeal is excellent for applying to sunburns because its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics stop itching.
4. Hydrocortisone
Creams containing hydrocortisone aid in reducing itch and irritation. It is recommended that you start with over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment, but if more serious burns require it, talk to your doctor about prescription steroids.
5. Humectant
You should make an effort to avoid the sun and continue to drink plenty of water in the days following a sunburn. Sensitive skincare is crucial in the days after a severe sunburn. To assist rebuild the skin’s moisture barrier, it’s crucial to keep the skin properly moisturized using gentle cleansers and moisturizers that contain humectants and ceramides. Alpha hydroxides such as plant, animal, and lactic acid as well as honey are also humectants. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) help speed up the healing process. Just be careful not to use too much AHA because it can aggressively exfoliate your skin.
Conclusion
No matter how careful you are with sun protection, a sunburn can still sneak up on you occasionally. It could be because you neglected to apply sunscreen in a particular area, you didn’t do so promptly, or the sunscreen you used wasn’t as water- or sweat-resistant as you had believed. In any event, it’s critical to take care of a sunburn as soon as you receive one.
You can reduce any discomfort and hasten the healing process by taking care of it using moisturizers. Applying moisturizers, especially those with ingredients such as vitamin E, soy milk, aloe vera, hydrocortisone and humectants can aid in soothing the burned area. We hope that through this article, we were able to give you helpful tips for moisturizing a sunburned skin.