How to take care of my skin after sunburn?

So, what exactly is sunburn?

Sunburn happens when your skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This causes damage that shows up as redness, swelling, and a burning feeling. Often, your skin may also start peeling a few days later. The symptoms usually appear a few hours after sun exposure and can worsen up to around 36 hours afterward. In more severe cases, people might experience fever, chills, dizziness, or nausea.

What to do right after you get sunburned?

First thing, stop going back into the sun - your skin needs a break. Drink lots of water, seriously, that’s super important. Then, cool your skin gently, but don’t go throwing ice on it - that’s too harsh. Lukewarm water or soft compresses are better. Slap on some aloe vera gel or a good moisturizer to help calm things down. If the pain is bugging you a lot, taking something like ibuprofen can help ease it. And please, don’t put stuff like butter or oils on it - I’ve heard that’s a bad idea and can make it worse.

How do you keep from getting sunburned in the first place?

Sunscreen is your best buddy. Use a broad-spectrum one with high SPF every time you’re outside. If you want that tan but don’t want to burn, maybe try self-tanning creams - they’re way safer. Also, wearing hats and covering up with clothes when you can really helps protect your skin.

When should you see a doctor?

If you get blisters all over a big area, or the pain gets too intense, or you start getting fever or signs the burn might be infected, don’t mess around, get some medical help.

And yeah, these tips come from dermatologists and health experts, so you can trust ‘em.

Need some good stuff to treat your sunburn? Check out our aloe vera gels and high-SPF sunscreens - they’re pretty great.