I was recently on a short vacation in sunny Fort Lauderdale with our friends, and I saw first hand their sixteen year old lovely daughter get a pretty painful-looking sunburn on her feet “despite using sunscreen”. She had neglected to apply it on her feet. Although we still enjoyed our next two days there, I could feel her pain and agony trying to wear any footwear over the next few days. It made me realize all over again the importance of respecting our sunscreen and sun-protective gear.

Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy being outdoors, but sometimes, despite our best efforts to slather on the protection, we end up with a sunburn. 

Here’s some expert advice on how to treat a sunburn effectively, for your reading consumption, and my take on it.

Understanding your sunburn is key. Sunburn occurs when the skin is overexposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, leading to damage to the skin cells. Symptoms can range from mild redness and discomfort to severe pain, blistering, and peeling. While prevention is always the best strategy, knowing how to treat a sunburn is crucial for those times when you do get too much sun.

The immediate steps to take if you think you are sunburned:

First thing, get out of the sun as soon as you notice signs of sunburn, move to a shaded area or go indoors to prevent further damage. In our case, we moved indoors as there was nowhere that was cool and shaded enough.

Secondly, cool down the skin by applying a cool, damp cloth to the affected areas or take a cool bath. Avoid using ice or very cold water, as this can cause more harm to the sensitive skin.

Hydration is key as a sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body, which can lead to dehydration. Make sure to drink plenty of water to help rehydrate your skin and body. This is often underscored as we culturally are almost always dehydrated and I don’t know many people who will follow through with drinking 7-8 cups of water a day! Pay attention to your H2O intake.

Now onto topical treatments. Here are my go to’s:

1. Aloe Vera:Tried and tested aloe vera gel can provide relief from the burning sensation and help the skin recover faster. A recent innovation first used by cancer patients to soothe radiation burns is now available in the form of a pliable gel wrap without the stickiness of traditional aloe vera gel.

2. Moisturizers: Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. Look for products containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid, which help restore the skin barrier. I especially like Biafine, or even La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Baume B5 which is great for repairing the skin barrier. If nothing else is available, go for aquaphor.

3. Hydrocortisone Cream: For more severe sunburns, applying a 1% hydrocortisone cream can reduce inflammation and discomfort. If you can get your hands on 2% that’s even better. Sometimes I suggest mixing hydrocortisone cream with something like an Aquaphor.

If you’re experiencing significant pain, over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort. Always follow the recommended dosage instructions. And be especially careful not to overdo Ibuprofen if you may be dehydrated as well, as that will surely mess up your kidneys! (making my nephrologist husband really sad).

Avoid further irritation by wearing loose clothing that won’t rub against the sunburned skin and stay out of the sun.  If you must go outside, wear protective clothing and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. If you are spending a lot of time outdoors, especially on a beach, look for clothing with UPF 50 (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). I am a believer in UV visors as well which work better than hats to help protect the face and neck area.

Knowing when to seek medical attention is key if you experience, 

• Severe blistering over a large portion of your body
• Fever, chills, or signs of infection (such as increased pain, redness, swelling, or pus)
• Symptoms of dehydration, such as dizziness, dry mouth, or reduced urine output

As I was saying earlier,  prevention is the best medicine. so always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, reapply it every two hours (or more often if swimming or sweating), and wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Do not rush or skimp on this and you should be golden. Now, let’s go and enjoy the last few weeks of sun and summer.