Sunburn: what should be the first aid

1. Cool your skin

The first step is to get out of direct sunlight as soon as possible. You can just in the shade, but ideally - in a cool room.

Second, use compresses to soothe burned skin. To do this, apply a towel soaked in cold water (fresh, not sea!) To the affected areas for 5-10 minutes. Repeat as necessary. Option: Take a cool bath or shower.

What not to do

Do not add foreign substances to the compress water or bath. Salt (even if it says “soothing” on the can), ethanol, urine, vinegar irritate First Aid for Sunburn on already damaged skin and can aggravate swelling and discomfort.

2. Moisturize your skin

This is done again in two steps. First, moisturize the outside. To do this, after getting out of the bath or removing a cool compress, pat your skin dry with a soft dry towel, but leave it slightly wet. Then apply moisturizer in gentle strokes. Experts from the Mayo Clinic research organization especially recommend aloe gel and calamine lotion, experts from the authoritative medical publication WebMD Sunburn recommend creams with camphor or menthol (in this case, in addition to moisturizing, you will get an additional cooling effect).

Second, moisturize from the inside out. Drink plenty of water after a burn to prevent dehydration.

What not to do

On the first day, do not apply any greasy 5 Ways to Treat a Sunburn and film-forming products to the skin. Skin needs to breathe for effective repair. Prohibited:

fatty nourishing creams;
oils, including coconut;
any fats - pork, badger, goose;
sour cream, kefir and other fermented milk products;
petrolatum;
honey;
egg yolk.

There is a popular version that burned skin should be treated with a preparation containing dexpanthenol. However, in international medical recommendations regarding first aid for sunburn, this remedy is not mentioned.

3. Relieve pain and inflammation

Take an acetaminophen or ibuprofen pain reliever. Such drugs not only reduce discomfort, but also help reduce swelling and redness.

To enhance the effect, you can apply an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to your skin.

What not to do

Do not use topical products containing lidocaine or benzocaine.

4. Wait

While the skin is recovering, do not go out in the sun. If this is a problem, wear loose, long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Continue to moisturize the affected areas.

Blisters may appear on the skin. Dermatologists believe they help the epidermis heal and protect itself from infections. Do not pierce them.

If the bladder bursts on its own, gently rinse it with soapy water, apply an antiseptic - a non-alcohol based product (such as chlorhexidine) or water-soluble ointment - and cover the wound with a gauze bandage.

What not to do

Do not hesitate and visit a therapist or dermatologist as soon as possible (and if you have severe symptoms, call an ambulance) if:

Blisters with a diameter of 1, 5 cm and more formed on the skin. Most likely, they will burst and become foci of infection. Therefore, it is better to open and process them with the help of a specialist.
Blisters cover a wide area - for example, the entire back. The logic is the same as in the paragraph above.
At the site of the bursting bladder, the skin became inflamed, reddened, and went into a rash.
The pain from the burn does not subside over time, but intensifies.
Headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, fever, chills are present. These symptoms can be signs of heatstroke, which is life-threatening.
There are signs of infection - blisters with pus or red streaks under the skin in the affected area. Infection can lead to blood poisoning, it is important to stop it in time.