Summertime in Wilmington, NC affords most of us the opportunity to spend time at the beach. And unfortunately, with increased sun exposure comes the risk of getting a sunburn. Sometimes it’s just in that one place you forgot to get with sunscreen (hello top of my feet), and other times we get carried away and forget to reapply sunscreen or find ourselves outside for too long with no sun protection at all.
We know what that means. Ouch! Sunburn.
So, what should you do when you find yourself a shade of cooked lobster? We asked our dermatologists for the best tips on how to treat a bad sunburn.
1. Cool down the sunburned area
As soon as you recognize that you have a sunburn, take cover out of the sun. If possible, cool your skin. Cool/cold showers are a great way to go.
2. Keep the area moisturized
Gently pat yourself dry on the sunburned area if you’re getting out of the shower. With the skin still damp, apply a hydrocortisone cream with aloe vera. Target sells a tube of the stuff for just over $3.
A note of caution, do not treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine). These can irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction.
3. Decrease pain and inflammation
Use a NSAID of your choice – aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. Wear loose clothing around the affected area and stay out of the sun.
4. Stay thirsty, my friend
Sunburns draw moisture to the surface. Beyond keeping a moisturizer on the burned area, attack the problem from the inside too and make sure to drink plenty of water. Stay well hydrated while the burn heals.
5. Don’t pop any blisters that form
If you managed to get a sunburn that blisters, congratulations, you have a second degree burn. Don’t pop the blisters. They are there to protect your skin while it heals. Popping them will increase the chance of infection. If there’s one thing worse than a bad sunburn, it’s an infected sunburn You really, really, don’t want that.
6. When to see a doctor
If you have blistering over a large portion of your body, get chills, or feel woozy, seek medical help.
7. Dealing with the aftermath
A bad sunburn, especially if it’s produced blisters, increases your chances of skin cancer in that area later on down the road. If you don’t already, plan your annual skin scan to check for any abnormalities in your skin. An annual skin exam by your dermatologist can identify any signs of trouble before they develop into a genuine issue.
If you don’t have a dermatologist, we hope you’ll consider using us at Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. We now have a new office in Hampstead, NC for easier service!
Call (910) 794-5355 today to schedule your annual skin scan or for any questions about treating sunburns that you may have.
Summertime in Wilmington, NC affords most of us the opportunity to spend time at the beach. And unfortunately, with increased sun exposure comes the risk of getting a sunburn. Sometimes it’s just in that one place you forgot to get with sunscreen (hello top of my feet), and other times we get carried away and forget to reapply sunscreen or find ourselves outside for too long with no sun protection at all.
We know what that means. Ouch! Sunburn.
So, what should you do when you find yourself a shade of cooked lobster? We asked our dermatologists for the best tips on how to treat a bad sunburn.
1. Cool down the sunburned area
As soon as you recognize that you have a sunburn, take cover out of the sun. If possible, cool your skin. Cool/cold showers are a great way to go.
2. Keep the area moisturized
Gently pat yourself dry on the sunburned area if you’re getting out of the shower. With the skin still damp, apply a hydrocortisone cream with aloe vera. Target sells a tube of the stuff for just over $3.
A note of caution, do not treat sunburn with “-caine” products (such as benzocaine). These can irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction.
3. Decrease pain and inflammation
Use a NSAID of your choice – aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. Wear loose clothing around the affected area and stay out of the sun.
4. Stay thirsty, my friend
Sunburns draw moisture to the surface. Beyond keeping a moisturizer on the burned area, attack the problem from the inside too and make sure to drink plenty of water. Stay well hydrated while the burn heals.
5. Don’t pop any blisters that form
If you managed to get a sunburn that blisters, congratulations, you have a second degree burn. Don’t pop the blisters. They are there to protect your skin while it heals. Popping them will increase the chance of infection. If there’s one thing worse than a bad sunburn, it’s an infected sunburn You really, really, don’t want that.
6. When to see a doctor
If you have blistering over a large portion of your body, get chills, or feel woozy, seek medical help.
7. Dealing with the aftermath
A bad sunburn, especially if it’s produced blisters, increases your chances of skin cancer in that area later on down the road. If you don’t already, plan your annual skin scan to check for any abnormalities in your skin. An annual skin exam by your dermatologist can identify any signs of trouble before they develop into a genuine issue.
If you don’t have a dermatologist, we hope you’ll consider using us at Summit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. We now have a new office in Hampstead, NC for easier service!
Call (910) 794-5355 today to schedule your annual skin scan or for any questions about treating sunburns that you may have.
Are you dealing with a bad sunburn? Call us for help!
Our licensed dermatologists can help to restore your skin after a bad sunburn. If you haven’t had a skin scan in the last year, now’s a great time to schedule that as well. We’ll see you soon.