Are you spending a lot of time in the sun? Be sure you're taking the necessary steps to protect your skin! As the summer season rolls around and families are planning vacations, sun exposure is increasing. If you end up getting a sunburn after all your time outside, don't worry — we're here to help! Here are 5 simple tips for how to treat a sunburn:
1. Aloe Vera
If you're looking for quick relief for your sunburn, aloe vera is a great option. Although there's no evidence that aloe actually cures a sunburn, it does help with the healing process! Aloe keeps the area moisturized and helps minimize inflammation as it heals. The cool gel helps soothe your burning skin. You can get aloe vera gel or lotion at our pharmacy. Just apply a layer directly to the burn and let it do its job!
2. Take Cool Baths or Showers
Another way to help soothe the sunburn is to take frequent cool baths or showers. The cool sensation will help relieve the pain. As soon as you get out of the bathtub or shower, gently pat yourself dry, but leave some water on your skin. Then, we recommend applying a moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin and ease the dryness.
3. Drink Extra Water
When you have a sunburn, it's a lot easier for your body to get dehydrated. This is because a sunburn draws fluid to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body. Drinking more water than usual helps prevent dehydration.
4. Wear UPF Clothing
When you're trying to heal from a sunburn, you want to be careful about exposing those burns to the sun. You have to take extra precautions to protect your sunburned skin as it heals. We recommend UPF clothing. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. When shopping for UPF clothing, you want to look for apparel with a higher UPF rating. Darker fabrics tend to provide more UV protection than lighter fabrics, and polyester and nylon offer more sun protection than natural fibers.
How to Prevent a Sunburn
Now that we've talked about how to treat a sunburn and given you some tips on how to soothe your burned skin, now we're going to teach you how to protect your skin. Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent a sunburn:
Wear Sunscreen
Of course, our top tip is to wear sunscreen! Sunscreens are chemicals that block or filter sunlight. When using sunscreen, choose one with an SPF of 30 or higher, and pick a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. It's best to use a waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen, especially when you plan on swimming. You'll want to apply it to all exposed skin 30 minutes prior to going outside, and reapply it every two hours.
Take Heliocare
Another way to help with sunburns is to take Heliocare. Heliocare is a simple, one-a-day supplement that helps protect your skin. It affects the skin over your entire body and won't be washed away by swimming, sweating, or other activities. Heliocare can act as an oral sunscreen. It can suppress sunburn and make it take longer to tan, which means you can safely stay in the sun longer. You can find Heliocare at Hines Street Pharmacy!
Now that you know how to treat a sunburn and ways to prevent it, be sure to take the actions necessary to protect your skin and provide it with the best care possible. Learn more about our pharmacy today and visit us for all the skin protection you need!
