How to relieve sunburn?

¿Cómo aliviar las quemaduras del sol?

Good weather, terraces, the pool, the beach... We love them! But all these activities involve a lot of sun exposure. It's well known that the sun makes us beautiful, but our skin suffers significant deterioration and aging if you don't apply adequate protection or take the necessary care of it. The most obvious damage is burnt skin, or consequently, peeling. And since we know this happens and isn't pleasant... we'll tell you about it. how to relieve sunburn safely and painlessly.

So if you don't know What to do when you get sunburned . Here's the treatment you should follow to cure a sunburn. Before that, we'll look at what causes sunburn and how long it lasts.

What causes sunburn?

When you expose your skin to Too much ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can cause a terrible sunburn. Even those slightly pink or tender spots on your shoulders and chest count as a sunburn.

While the primary source of ultraviolet light is sunlight, you can also be exposed to ultraviolet light through sunlamps or tanning beds.

UVA (Ultraviolet A) radiation , responsible for photoaging, is the type of radiation that contributes to wrinkles, uneven skin tone and dark spots by decreasing the skin's strength and flexibility.

For its part, UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation is another type of radiation that can cause sunburn. Importantly, the likelihood of developing skin cancer increases with both types of radiation.

There is another type of radiation that can also burn the skin and even damage the eyes. It is known as UVC (Ultraviolet C) radiation, Although in this case the ozone layer prevents most of these rays from reaching the earth.

What happens to your body when you're exposed to the sun for too long?

When you expose your skin to UV rays, your body will try to protect itself by producing melanin . Melanin is the dark pigment in the outer layer of your skin, the kind you see when you think, "Hey, I've got some color!" But even for those with darker skin, this defense isn't enough to protect against damage or skin aging.

Darker skin tones naturally contain more melanin, which may offer some built-in sun protection. This builds resilience, but as we mentioned, they are also susceptible to burning.

When you get sunburned, your skin will turn pinkish red. It's also possible that this doesn't happen, and you won't even notice the redness; in any case, exposing yourself to ultraviolet light can cause cellular damage.

Obviously, On lighter skin tones, sunburn can be more severe , because they are more sensitive skin.

Additionally, if the sunburn is particularly severe, you may also experience blisters, fever, nausea, exhaustion, and headaches. This is known as sun poisoning, which often refers to a severe sunburn that causes systemic symptoms similar to those mentioned above. In these cases, immediate medical attention is recommended.

How long does it take for burned skin to regenerate?

In reality, each sunburn is different, however, The most serious burns often take several days, or even up to a week, to heal .

It's worth mentioning that some sunburns fade and tan. However, this happens very rarely and only if your skin is well hydrated and has accumulated enough melanin.

Either way, it's not recommended to expose your skin to the sun in this way, as it will fade with the tan. What you'll do is simply damage your skin.

What to do when you get sunburned?

At this point, you might be wondering what's good for sunburn. Unfortunately, there's no remedy that can make a sunburn disappear suddenly.

The good news is that You can soothe the redness of the sun with treatments that will also help reduce the pain and burning . If you notice that you have a sunburn, You should stop sun exposure and begin treating the burn immediately.

If you don't know How to cure sunburn , here we share several tips:

1 – Cold showers

The best for sunburns is to take cold showers instead of hot water. Hot water can irritate your already burned skin, while cold water can soothe inflammation and reduce your temperature.

When you get out of the shower, be sure to pat your body dry, leaving a little moisture behind. Then, gently apply a moisturizer to lock in moisture and reduce dryness that can aggravate skin irritation.

2 – Moisturizing cream

Many wonder if Is it bad to remove sunburned skin ? The answer is absolutely yes. You should never remove burned skin yourself, as this could further irritate the skin or even cause an infection. When your new skin is fully formed and protected, it will peel off the old skin, allowing it to fall off safely.

A more recommendable method for cure sunburn is the use of a moisturizer, preferably with regenerating ingredients. Moisturizer with aloe vera is a popular option. This is because Aloe vera has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties for the skin . Therefore, it can help soothe irritation that causes sunburn.

3 – Drink lots of water

What happens is that A sunburn absorbs water from the skin's surface , depleting the reserves inside the body. Therefore, Drinking more water when you have a sunburn can prevent you from becoming dehydrated .

For those who don't know how to cure sunburn on the face, or anywhere else on the body, it's important to understand that hydration is a fundamental part of healing. Drink plenty of water!

4 – Analgesics

In the most extreme cases, taking painkillers is another of the most effective treatments to relieve sunburn . We must not forget that for our body, A sunburn is like an injury , which means it will respond with inflammation. Therefore, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, particularly a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin, may soothe the pain of sunburn.

It's even the most appropriate option if, in addition to pain, you experience fatigue or headaches. Never return to sun exposure after taking one of these medications; they are photosensitive and can cause dark spots or worse damage.

In any case, always try to prevent a burn. Even if you know how to overcome them, it won't do any good. To do this, protect your skin with sunscreen (choose your sunscreen carefully) with at least SPF 30. If you don't have one on hand, protect yourself from direct sun exposure.

And now, enjoy the sun!

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