Getting a
sunburn looks bad, is painful, peels, and inflicts long-lasting damage to
skin. Even one blistering burn can
double the lifetime risk of melanoma. Sunburns are preventable with sunscreen, shade and clothing, but they
can happen. Here are a few ways to ease
the pain and damage of a sunburn.
Act quickly. If you feel the tingling of a sunburn or see
any sign of skin reddening, get out of the sun and start treatment. Sunburns can sneak up on you, as it may take
4-5 hours for symptoms to develop after the actual burn.
Cool the skin with a bath or shower
and slather on moisturizing cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Repeat frequently. Consider using a product such as Noxzema to
cool the skin also. It’s also OK to use
a hydrocortisone cream (Cortaid) for a couple days to decrease inflammation and
relieve discomfort. Don’t scrub, pick or peel the skin.
Burns draw fluid to the skin and away
from the rest of the body, so drink extra water for a few days.
Ibuprofen (Advil) also works as an
anti-inflammatory to relieve discomfort for the first 48 hours after a
sunburn. Just be sure to take it with
food.
Most sunburns, even blistering ones,
can be treated at home. If fever/chills
develop, then seek medical attention.
Consider the burn a “warning” that
your sun protection measure have failed and try to avoid another one. That means using sunscreen, covering up,
wearing hats and avoiding the sun as much as possible between 10am -4pm.
Midwest Medical Waste, Inc.
PO Box 416Manhattan, KS 66505
No comments:
Post a Comment