Here are the 5 best methods to treat, soothe, and heal sunburned skin Bedford News

As the weather across the UK starts to get sunny and dry after an unusually rainy May, some of us can get sunburned.

Staying safe when in the sun is important because sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer – but if it’s already too late and the damage has been done, there are ways to treat. your sunburn at home.

You need to act quickly to calm the sunburn from the first step. Cool your skin with a cold compress – you can use ice to make ice water for a cold compress, but do not apply ice directly to the burnt skin.

Alternatively, you can take a cool shower or bath, but not too long as it can be quite drying. You should also avoid harsh soaps, which could irritate your skin even more.

While your skin is moist, moisturize it with a mild moisturizing lotion – but make sure it’s not petroleum or oil based, as this can trap heat and make your skin worse. burn.

Keep hydrating to keep the burnt or peel skin hydrated over the next few days.

To fight pain or inflammation, you need to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen.

You can also use an over-the-counter one percent cortisone cream for a few days to relieve redness and swelling. Aloe vera can also help soothe mild burns.

Burns draw fluids to the surface of the skin and away from the rest of the body, which means you can become dehydrated. It’s important to stay hydrated while your skin heals by drinking extra fluids, such as water and sports drinks, which help replenish electrolytes.

You must be very careful not to expose the sunburnt skin to the sun until the skin is completely healed.

Avoid all sunlight, including through windows, and cover the affected area until the skin is healed.

To help protect your skin from burns, you should use sunscreen. When buying sunscreen, make sure the label has a sun protection factor (SPF) or at least 30 to protect against UVB, and at least four star UVA protection.

If you already have sunscreen at home, make sure it hasn’t expired – most sunscreens have a two to three year shelf life.

Most people don’t use enough sunscreen – as a guideline, adults should aim to use around two teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re just covering your head, arms, and neck, and around two. tablespoons of sunscreen if you cover your whole body.

If the sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it offers is reduced.

You shouldn’t rely solely on sunscreen to protect yourself – the NHS also recommends spending time in the shade between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and covering yourself with appropriate clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat and sleeved top long.

According to the NHS, the skin will usually start to flake and peel after a few days, and will usually be completely healed within seven days.

You should see your GP or call NHS 111 if any of the following occurs:

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site NationalWorld