The United Kingdom has recently had one of its hottest summers on record, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of England.
Some Brits will inevitably end up getting sunburnt, even though you insist that you’ve put enough sunscreen on. So here are some tips on how to treat sunburn.
Preventive measures
The first, and obvious step, is to try and avoid getting sunburn. Sunscreen is your saviour here, as it protects you from the harmful sun rays that cause sunburn and can cause skin cancer in the long run. It’s important to note that sunscreen does not prevent you from getting a tan.
Dip in and out of shade.
You can still tan and sunburn in the shade, so apply sunscreen even if you’re not in direct sunlight. If you sit in direct sunlight for a long time, such as while sitting on the beach, periodically take breaks from the sun in the shade or indoors. This will help you to bronze overtime without burning and will help you to notice if you are starting to burn.
Cool down
When you get a sunburn, your skin may feel hot to the touch and it may feel like the heat is radiating off of you. This can confuse your body’s internal thermometer. Therefore, cooling down with a cool bath, shower, or a damp towel can help ease this heat. Don’t use any ice on your sunburnt skin as the extreme cold can further damage the tissue in your skin.
Keep checking your skin
While you’re sitting in the sun and heat, it can be difficult to tell if you’re already burning. Therefore, you should try to check or get someone else to check if you’re already starting to burn. If you are, apply more sunscreen and take a break from the sun. This will stop you from burning to the point of pain!
Use aftersun
After you’ve been in the sun, whether you’re burnt or not, use aftersun. This helps to rehydrate the skin and keep it healthy. If you have got sunburn, aftersun that contains aloe vera will help to cool your skin down and will give it some much-needed rehydration. This will lessen your chances of peeling or getting blisters.
If you’re badly burnt
Some sunburns can be so bad that they evolve into something more serious, and may require medical attention. These are the warning signs of something more serious than just sunburn:
- The sunburnt area is blistering
- You start feeling shivery and/or have a high temperature
- You feel extremely dizzy and sick
In severe cases of sunburn, you can develop heat exhaustion, which means your body is finding it difficult to regulate your internal temperature. If not spotted and treated quickly, this can lead to heatstroke, so keep an eye out for the warning signs if you have been sunburnt! If you’re sunburnt and feeling unwell but aren’t sure whether you need medical attention, call 111 for advice.
The takeaway message
Sunburn can be painful and harmful if you repeatedly burn in the same places. Trying to prevent sunburn is the best way to ensure you stay healthy in sunny and hot weather, but sometimes we sunburn without realising it until it’s too late. If you have sunburnt, treat it immediately so it doesn’t get worse.
If you start feeling ill, tell someone what’s happening, as you may need to seek medical attention in the worst case. Stay hydrated and sunscreen up.