Sunny days, drinks outside, the pool, the beach… we love it all! But every one of those plans means plenty of sun exposure. We all know a bit of sun makes us look good, but your skin takes a real battering – and ages faster – if you don't protect it properly or give it the care it needs. The most obvious damage is sunburn, followed by peeling. And because we know it happens, and it's no fun, here's how to soothe sunburn safely and painlessly.
So if you're not sure what to do when you get sunburnt, you'll find the steps to follow below. But first, let's look at what causes sunburn and how long it lasts.
What causes sunburn?
When your skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, you get that painful sunburn. Even those slightly pink or tender patches on your shoulders and chest count as sunburn.
Sunlight is the main source of UV light, but you can also be exposed to it through sunlamps and sunbeds.
UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation is responsible for photoageing: it contributes to wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dark spots by reducing the skin's strength and elasticity.
UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation, meanwhile, is the type that causes sunburn. The key point is that both types increase the risk of skin cancer.
There's a third type that can also burn the skin and even damage the eyes, known as UVC (ultraviolet C) radiation, although the ozone layer stops most of it from reaching the earth.
What happens to your body when you spend too long in the sun?
When your skin is exposed to UV rays, your body tries to protect itself by producing melanin, the dark pigment in the outer layer of your skin – the one you notice when you think, "Hey, I've caught the sun!" But even for people with darker skin, this natural defence isn't enough to prevent damage or skin ageing.
If it's your face that's caught the sun, the priority is to replace the water it's lost. Look for a light moisturiser that won't clog your pores: FETĒN's Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish contains aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and sinks in straight away without leaving your face greasy.
Darker skin tones naturally contain more melanin, which offers a little built-in sun protection and makes the skin more resilient – but, as we said, darker skin can still burn.
When you get sunburnt, your skin turns pinkish red. Sometimes you might not notice any redness at all, but either way, UV exposure can still cause damage to your skin cells.
Naturally, sunburn can be more severe on fairer skin, as it's more sensitive.
And if the sunburn is particularly bad, you may also get blisters, a fever, nausea, exhaustion and headaches. This is sometimes called sun poisoning: severe sunburn that causes symptoms throughout the body like those above. If that happens, seek medical help straight away.
How long does sunburnt skin take to heal?
Every sunburn is different, but more severe burns usually take several days, or even up to a week, to heal.
Some sunburn does fade into a tan, but this is quite rare and only happens if your skin is well hydrated and has built up enough melanin.
Either way, deliberately burning your skin in the hope that it'll turn into a tan is a bad idea. All you'll do is damage your skin.
What should you do when you get sunburnt?
By now you're probably wondering what actually helps with sunburn. Unfortunately, there's no miracle cure that makes it disappear overnight.
The good news is that you can calm the redness with treatments that also help ease the pain and stinging. As soon as you notice sunburn, get out of the sun and start treating it straight away.
First, always: get out of the sun. Then cool your skin down and rehydrate it, as you'll see in the steps below. And over the next few days, while your skin recovers, don't skip the moisturiser: our men's face hydration collection has what we use to stop that tight feeling. If you get blisters or a fever, see a doctor.
If you're not sure how to treat sunburn, here are a few tips:
1 – Cool showers
The best thing for sunburn is a cool shower rather than a hot one. Hot water can irritate burnt skin even more, while cool water can soothe inflammation and bring your temperature down.
When you get out, pat yourself dry gently, leaving your skin slightly damp. Then gently apply a moisturiser to lock in moisture and reduce the dryness that can make irritation worse.
2 – Moisturiser
Lots of people ask whether it's bad to peel off sunburnt skin. The answer is a definite yes. Never pick off burnt skin yourself, as you could irritate it further or even cause an infection. Once the new skin underneath is fully formed and protected, the old skin will come away safely on its own.
A much better way to help sunburn heal is to use a moisturiser, ideally one with skin-repairing ingredients. Moisturisers with aloe vera are a popular choice, because aloe vera has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help calm the irritation caused by sunburn.
3 – Drink plenty of water
Sunburn draws water to the surface of the skin, depleting the rest of your body. So drinking more water when you're sunburnt helps you avoid dehydration.
Whether you're wondering how to treat sunburn on your face or anywhere else on your body, hydration is a key part of recovery. Drink plenty of water!
4 – Painkillers
In more severe cases, painkillers are another effective way to ease sunburn. Remember, as far as your body's concerned, sunburn is an injury, so it responds with inflammation. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen or aspirin can help ease the pain of sunburn. Always follow the instructions on the pack.
It's a particularly good option if you also feel tired or have a headache. But stay out of the sun after taking them: some of these medicines can make your skin more sensitive to light and lead to dark spots or further damage.
Whatever happens, always try to avoid getting burnt in the first place – knowing how to deal with sunburn doesn't make it any less harmful. Protect your skin with a sun cream that gives at least high protection (choose it carefully), and if you haven't got any to hand, keep out of direct sunlight.
Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish
To soothe your skin after a day in the sun.
Take a look →
Now go and enjoy the sun – safely!
How to Soothe Sunburn
Sunny days, drinks outside, the pool, the beach… we love it all! But every one of those plans means plenty of sun exposure. We all know a bit of sun makes us look good, but your skin takes a real battering – and ages faster – if you don't protect it properly or give it the care it needs. The most obvious damage is sunburn, followed by peeling. And because we know it happens, and it's no fun, here's how to soothe sunburn safely and painlessly.
So if you're not sure what to do when you get sunburnt, you'll find the steps to follow below. But first, let's look at what causes sunburn and how long it lasts.
What causes sunburn?
When your skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, you get that painful sunburn. Even those slightly pink or tender patches on your shoulders and chest count as sunburn.
Sunlight is the main source of UV light, but you can also be exposed to it through sunlamps and sunbeds.
UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation is responsible for photoageing: it contributes to wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dark spots by reducing the skin's strength and elasticity.
UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation, meanwhile, is the type that causes sunburn. The key point is that both types increase the risk of skin cancer.
There's a third type that can also burn the skin and even damage the eyes, known as UVC (ultraviolet C) radiation, although the ozone layer stops most of it from reaching the earth.
What happens to your body when you spend too long in the sun?
When your skin is exposed to UV rays, your body tries to protect itself by producing melanin, the dark pigment in the outer layer of your skin – the one you notice when you think, "Hey, I've caught the sun!" But even for people with darker skin, this natural defence isn't enough to prevent damage or skin ageing.
If it's your face that's caught the sun, the priority is to replace the water it's lost. Look for a light moisturiser that won't clog your pores: FETĒN's Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish contains aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and sinks in straight away without leaving your face greasy.
Darker skin tones naturally contain more melanin, which offers a little built-in sun protection and makes the skin more resilient – but, as we said, darker skin can still burn.
When you get sunburnt, your skin turns pinkish red. Sometimes you might not notice any redness at all, but either way, UV exposure can still cause damage to your skin cells.
Naturally, sunburn can be more severe on fairer skin, as it's more sensitive.
And if the sunburn is particularly bad, you may also get blisters, a fever, nausea, exhaustion and headaches. This is sometimes called sun poisoning: severe sunburn that causes symptoms throughout the body like those above. If that happens, seek medical help straight away.
How long does sunburnt skin take to heal?
Every sunburn is different, but more severe burns usually take several days, or even up to a week, to heal.
Some sunburn does fade into a tan, but this is quite rare and only happens if your skin is well hydrated and has built up enough melanin.
Either way, deliberately burning your skin in the hope that it'll turn into a tan is a bad idea. All you'll do is damage your skin.
What should you do when you get sunburnt?
By now you're probably wondering what actually helps with sunburn. Unfortunately, there's no miracle cure that makes it disappear overnight.
The good news is that you can calm the redness with treatments that also help ease the pain and stinging. As soon as you notice sunburn, get out of the sun and start treating it straight away.
First, always: get out of the sun. Then cool your skin down and rehydrate it, as you'll see in the steps below. And over the next few days, while your skin recovers, don't skip the moisturiser: our men's face hydration collection has what we use to stop that tight feeling. If you get blisters or a fever, see a doctor.
If you're not sure how to treat sunburn, here are a few tips:
1 – Cool showers
The best thing for sunburn is a cool shower rather than a hot one. Hot water can irritate burnt skin even more, while cool water can soothe inflammation and bring your temperature down.
When you get out, pat yourself dry gently, leaving your skin slightly damp. Then gently apply a moisturiser to lock in moisture and reduce the dryness that can make irritation worse.
2 – Moisturiser
Lots of people ask whether it's bad to peel off sunburnt skin. The answer is a definite yes. Never pick off burnt skin yourself, as you could irritate it further or even cause an infection. Once the new skin underneath is fully formed and protected, the old skin will come away safely on its own.
A much better way to help sunburn heal is to use a moisturiser, ideally one with skin-repairing ingredients. Moisturisers with aloe vera are a popular choice, because aloe vera has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help calm the irritation caused by sunburn.
3 – Drink plenty of water
Sunburn draws water to the surface of the skin, depleting the rest of your body. So drinking more water when you're sunburnt helps you avoid dehydration.
Whether you're wondering how to treat sunburn on your face or anywhere else on your body, hydration is a key part of recovery. Drink plenty of water!
4 – Painkillers
In more severe cases, painkillers are another effective way to ease sunburn. Remember, as far as your body's concerned, sunburn is an injury, so it responds with inflammation. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkiller such as ibuprofen or aspirin can help ease the pain of sunburn. Always follow the instructions on the pack.
It's a particularly good option if you also feel tired or have a headache. But stay out of the sun after taking them: some of these medicines can make your skin more sensitive to light and lead to dark spots or further damage.
Whatever happens, always try to avoid getting burnt in the first place – knowing how to deal with sunburn doesn't make it any less harmful. Protect your skin with a sun cream that gives at least high protection (choose it carefully), and if you haven't got any to hand, keep out of direct sunlight.
Men's Face Moisturiser, Matte Finish
To soothe your skin after a day in the sun.
Take a look →Now go and enjoy the sun – safely!