How to Treat a Sunburn

by Sofía / On 15 February, 2024 / In Beauty

In many tropical countries, and even some with colder climates, the holiday season, characterized as the time when we can take a good rest and extend our precious hours of free time, usually occurs in the summer season. As we should know, this is the warmest of all, being also the most pleasant for many, not only for these free moments but for everything it represents.

A time for tourism, celebration, joy, and rest under the sun, perhaps on some beach with calm waters or at the local pool, where we are not only positively exposed to good times and happiness but also, conversely, we are more vulnerable to exposure to ultraviolet rays emanating from that hot star we call the sun, which, as experts always say, can have negative consequences for the skin.

Among them, the most common is probably sunburn, a typical ailment of places with hotter climates and less terrain variation, as in the case of prairies or plains, without many mountains to provide shade at certain times, exposure is more prolonged. Therefore, whether we live in such an area or are on vacation there, it is important to know how to treat these burns according to the intensity of their symptoms.

To avoid this problem with a product designed for it, the best thing to do is to learn here All about natural sunscreen

About Sunburns

The sun emits a low-spectrum light flux, apart from the range of light we can see, known as ultraviolet rays, invisible to the human eye, undetectable by our senses, except for touch, as it is these rays that make us feel the warmth of the sun. However, whenever the situation is conducive, this warmth can turn into stifling heat, which although we do not notice, affects our skin in many ways.

When ultraviolet rays (UV for short) penetrate through the dermis, they cause cellular-level alterations, such as the death of protection provided by melanin, the oxidation of cells, the reduction of structural fibers of the dermis and, as a result, the well-known sunburns, which can cause a wide variety of symptoms and complications, according to different situations such as the duration of exposure and skin care and protection.

Symptoms

Changes in skin tone, such as pinkish color or redness.
Hot sensation to the touch.
Pain or burning.
Increased skin sensitivity.
Swelling and inflammation.
Small fluid-filled blisters.
Fever, headache, nausea, and fatigue (some people are more susceptible to these, depending on the intensity of exposure).

Risk Factors

Not all people are the same, and this affects our organism, as depending on different elements, whether genetic or lifestyle, we can suffer from different factors that make us vulnerable to risks or complications. The same occurs due to environmental factors, as we will see below:

Having fair skin or eyes, as well as suffering from skin sensitivity.
Tropical climate or lack of shade.
Working or spending a lot of time outdoors, which prolongs exposure.
Having wet skin, as surface moisture tends to increase the temperature that causes the burn.
Not using sunscreen and not properly caring for previous injuries.
Mixing moments of outdoor recreation with alcohol consumption.
Taking photosensitive medications or that make you more vulnerable to burns.

Complications

Although we have talked about how common these burns are, the truth is that their symptoms can lead to other more serious problems, depending on how long we have been exposed to UV rays, the risk factors that interact with the injury, subsequent care of the ailment, and many other elements that can cause, for example:

Appearance of oozing blisters in the affected areas.
Extension of symptoms throughout the body and develops blisters on the face, hands, or genitals.
Chronic inflammation and scaling.
Infection, such as pain, pus or red streaks moving away from an open blister.
Fever higher than 39.4 ºC.
Disorientation.
Dehydration.
Loss of consciousness or fainting due to heatstroke.

Home Remedies for Alleviating Them

Since this type of burn is so common, and in typical cases tend to be of low intensity, with symptoms that do not go beyond being an annoyance such as irritability, increased sensitivity, and redness, they can be treated in very simple ways, using various products or elements that we can find at home or acquire in any commercial establishment, most of which are of natural origin or barely synthesized, to not lose their naturalness.

However, we must not lose sight of the fact that, although the effectiveness of each of the items that will be mentioned in this list has been proven, they should only be used when, as we have said, the intensity of the injury is low. We emphasize this to avoid complications, as a more severe burn, treated indulgently or with incorrect methods, can carry a great risk or complication.

Aloe Vera

The first natural origin element is the commonly called aloe, or also the miracle plant, as it is known to have a large number of diverse components, with active properties very useful in remedies and medical issues. This can be applied directly to the skin, either by extracting the pulp from the stalks or thick leaves, or by using aloe vera gel, which can be purchased in health food stores and herbalists.

It provides refreshing relief, as this pulp is mainly composed of water, absorbed by the plant and combined with all the properties of the same. Among the latter, we can find actives such as moisturizers, cell regeneration, anti-inflammatory, astringent, antioxidants, and many more, that gradually heal the injury of the dermis, protect it and help in the recovery of its structure.

Another thing to note about this natural product is its high content of collagen, as well as vitamins, acids, and antioxidants, which stimulate the connective tissue cells, own to our organism, to produce more of this fibrous molecule, which is responsible for the production of elastin in the dermal structure, which adds to the skin tonicity, elasticity, firmness, and greater regeneration against this type of injuries.

Milk or Yogurt

The unique lactic acid of this product, when used as a skin soother in the treatment of sunburns, can be a double-edged sword, as while it helps the skin reduce swelling, burning, and redness, it also makes it vulnerable to suffer more damage by contact with ultraviolet rays, in case of applying makeup after applying this liquid, whether of animal or vegetable origin.

Therefore, although it is one of the most effective and easy-to-acquire remedies, it should be kept in mind to use it only when, after its application (using cloths, gauzes, or compresses of milk or yogurt, which are placed on the skin and left to act for at least 20 minutes), we do not plan to go out again; or if we do, it is at a later time, when the star has set.

Coconut Oil

Known as a great moisturizing tonic, this essential oil has a large number of properties, although in this case, we will focus on the anti-inflammatory one, which reduces redness, irritation, and swelling; as well as the antibacterial one, which protects the dermis against infections that may occur when exposing burns to elements of bacterial or infectious origin.

In addition to this, coconut oil contains a large number of elements that nourish, heal, and protect the skin, such as vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, as well as a large number of fibers, which stimulate collagen production, just like in the case of aloe vera, while enhancing the recovery of cells damaged by UV rays.

Many of these natural ingredients can be found in this product, learn about it by reading Mineral sunscreen: What it is and its benefits

Cold Water Compresses

The most basic, simple, and straightforward solution to combat a problem caused by high temperatures is always to apply some opposite element, with lower temperatures, as in the case of cold water, which will help reduce all symptoms naturally, while relaxing and refreshing the different layers of the dermis, superficially moisturizing.

It is important to extract the heat, whether using compresses or soaking a cloth, towel, or any absorbent fabric in cold liquid, then placing it on the affected area and letting it act. However, although the liquid can be at quite low temperatures, never use direct ice, as this can alter or reduce blood flow, worsening the condition of the injury.

Plantain Leaves

Although less known than many of the other options on this list, the plantain plant is popular thanks to its multitude of medicinal uses, as it contains not only anti-inflammatory actives but also antihemorrhagic, antioxidant, and antibacterial ones. The leaves should be washed very well, crushed, and moistened to obtain a thick paste, which can be applied as a poultice with the help of a damp cloth.

Cucumber

It is said that, thanks to its extremely high water content, cucumber is the natural moisturizer par excellence, although like aloe, it also includes other properties vital to combat the consequences of prolonged exposure to UV rays. It is important to use a bit of this vegetable naturally, whether in slices on the skin, crushed, mashed, or even blended; it should not be replaced by cucumber essence or extract.

With this product, not only hydration is sought, but also the refreshing sensation of its natural temperature, as well as the extraction of heat produced by it, which can be enhanced by cooling it a little before applying it, to support this way its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which will reduce skin symptoms.

Tomato

Another incredible natural moisturizer, although this one is applied not only for this active, but also for the contribution of antioxidants attributed to lycopene, a molecule found in this fruit. If we place a few slices of tomato on the skin, we can take advantage of its other anti-inflammatory actives, along with the aforementioned ones, to thus obtain a powerful ally in the fight against the consequences of sunburn.

Potato

Following the line of edibles with medicinal properties, in this case, we can try using the potato (the name depends on our place of origin), whose high starch content is capable of soothing different skin lesions, in addition to those produced by the action of UV rays. It also serves to moisturize, though to a lesser extent than the previous ones, so it can be blended and combined with a little water, to increase this benefit.

Vinegar

First a warning, for those who do not finish acquiring the information before using any product, vinegar should not be applied pure directly to a wound, whatever type it is. It should be diluted very broadly, for example, using only two tablespoons of this liquid for a full liter of water.

Although, due to its acidity and the dryness it causes to the touch, vinegar does not seem like a suitable ingredient to treat a burn, the truth is that its acetic acid contents make it an incredible ally in reducing skin symptoms such as irritation, itching, and burning sensation, so it is not only effective in this type of lesion but in any that affects the skin.

Calendula Oil

When we think of the concept of sun exposure by our skin, those who know about natural medicine think directly of this essential oil, known as one of the best natural sunscreens. It can be used independently, applied to the dermis to create a low-density oily film, which leaves no greasy sensation.

However, it can also be used after exposure to ultraviolet rays, to alleviate the symptoms they cause, taking advantage of its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its astringents and antioxidants, capable of reducing swelling, redness, and the sensation of burning and localized pain.

Medical Treatments and When to Resort to Them

According to symptoms and their severity, the answer to the question of when we should visit a specialist, whether a general practitioner, a dermatologist, or another qualified doctor, lies in the visibility of the injury and the sensation it causes in the patient. This can be deduced from the mentioned risk factors and complications, so it is important to know what the consequences of the burn are and what those of its complication are.

If swelling, redness, irritable touch, and increased sensitivity give way to acute, stabbing pain, oozing blisters, chronic scaling, or bleeding (whether external or internal, which can be recognized by the coloring of blood vessels), it is time to visit a clinic before wounds and their symptomatology worsen more due to lack of care.

In such a case, it is most likely that, as in most topical injuries, especially those affecting deep layers of the dermis, such as second-degree burns or infections, the doctor will prescribe a series of different medications. This is because each symptom must be treated individually, as a burn is not a disease as such, but an ailment that carries different pathological levels.

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Of all the medications on this list, it is the only one that can be taken without prescription, preventively, to alleviate redness, swelling, and irritation of different skin lesions, no matter the level of these, as there are different recipes ranging from professional remedies for minor irritation to topical ointments against chronic inflammation.

Corticosteroids

Since we mentioned the last point, chronic inflammation, which is the most common symptom of skin lesions that affect the dermal structure and the cells of this tissue, we must also mention corticosteroids, a synthetic medication designed to reduce this problem, fighting the damage produced by the increase in melanin levels and the internal factors that induce swelling.

Emollients

Although it is possible to use moisturizing creams preventively or, in case the burn is not yet severe, to alleviate the dryness that damages the skin, these are not strong enough against the roughness produced by a second-degree burn. In this case, emollients must be obtained, a medication that requires a prescription, special to increase the ability of the hypodermis to retain moisture.

If you think it is not possible to avoid these injuries and take care of your skin, you should read What to look for when buying sunscreen, according to dermatologists

Antibiotics

The case of this medicine, which cannot be obtained without a prescription and used without one, is a bit different, as although it is possible to apply it in this way, many specialists accuse antibiotics of producing adverse side effects. They are prescribed for the fight against infections, when this complication is what produces the risk in the wound or injury.