*HELP* I have a major sunburn, what can I do????

[Cruz Family]

I went to my sons football opening day for what was supposed to be and hour or so. Five hours later here I am with horrible sun burn on my shoulders. I mean they are on fire
What can I do????
TIA, Melissa

 

[Dizneydaz]

When I was a kid I got a bad sunburn on my back at the Colorado river. My grandma put regular vinegar on it. It helped with the pain and, as I remember, it didn't peel too badly. She just sponged it on with a washclothe and I laid on my stomache for awhile. I smelled like an easter egg though! Try this and then, after rinsing off, apply liberal amounts of aloe vera (the aloe with lanocaine (sp?) works great!

 

[suezb]

I get burned constantly...I'm like a red lobster all summer Prevention methods won't do you any good now of course, but after I get out in the sun, or after a sun burn, I like to apply Clinique's After Sun. Of course, you probably don't have that on hand either Cold washclothes on your skin are good, or ice....and of course Aloe Vera. I don't use Aloe Vera myself because it's too sticky.
Remember though, with sunburns...you're still burning under the skin, so it tends to get worse as time goes on! That's why you want to cool yourself down right away.
Good luck! It's not going to feel good getting in the shower the next couple of days either hehe

 

[Stacerita]

I would probably take some sort of tylenol or something like it to help with the pain and possible swelling.

 

[ceroarty]

I know this my sound strange but try Mayo. It really does work. Maybe because of the vinegar but it also feels cool. Hope you feel better.

 

[cdrn1]

I second the vinegar, if you don't mind smelling like a salad. Also, Advil or Motrin helps due to the anti-inflammatory properties.

 

[Cora]

Take tylenol or advil. Also put several tea bags in the tub and soak in luke warm water. Or you may just want to steep the bags a bit and dab them on your shoulders. The titanic acid in the tea bags will sooth the burn.

 

[Hannathy]

aspirin is supposed to be better than tylenol for a sunburn. I've used it and it does help.

 

[Shanan]

Take a cool shower, anti-inflammatory drug, vinegar and even aloe vera gel on it. I would lay on my stomach naked with the ceiling fan on and have spouse keep putting on either vinegar or gel. My sunburns would also seem to start hurting and look worse about 4 hours after I got home. Hope some of these ideas help.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you use vinegar, make sure you dilute it well, it's an acid and could further irritate already burned skin. Also, things like butter and mayonnaise can make burned skin "fry" and blister.

Here are some links which may be helpful. Feel better soon.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_sunburns_crs.htm


http://rmhonline.com/modules/selfcarewellness/Wellness.asp?buctid=1&bucid=173&showrelated=true (includes what not to put on a sunburn)

 

[twinklebug]

Solercain (spelling?) makes a great pain relief aloe gel. You can get it at Wal-Mart for about $5. Don't go with the old solorcain sprays... they've been proven to hurt more than help.

 

[Nienor]

I second twinklebug. I think it's called Burnacaine, it's blue and by the aloe usually. It's a spray on aloe with lidocaine to numb the skin a bit. It's sooooo cooling on burned skin. I discovered it when I was in horrible pain after forgetting my sunblock at Sesame Place a couple of years ago.

Only tip is don't use it after blisters have broken on sunburn. Cause if it gets on open skin, you'll be running for the shower to wash it off.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We've used Tylenol and pure Aloe Vera gel. We always have it on hand and bring some down with us to WDW also. Also, soak in a tepid/cool (not cold) bath. That may relieve it also.

 

[schmitty]

I have this green aloe gel I use and sometimes Coco butter if its really bad.

 

[Cruz Family]

Thanks to everyone for the help.

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

DO NOT PLACE OIL BASED PRODUCTS ON BURNS! (Check your ingredients) The oil based products can clog pores and keep them from breathing which traps the heat causing you more pain and perhaps an infection.

Aloe Vera Gel is your best bet. You can also try milk (whole fat) to relieve sunburn. Soak a sponge or cloth and wet your skin for about 20 minutes then take a cool bath or shower.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[karliebug]

I know this sounds weird but it works. Get a bottle of milk of magnesia and blot it on with cotton balls. it is very cooling and helps a lot.

 

[littleladykaty]

You definitely need to take advil b/c the skin is inflamed. It will also help with the pain. Keep the burn lubricated and moisturized as much as possible.

PLEASE wear sunscreen!!! One of my best friends died of skin cancer. She died less than two years after her diagnoses. Sunburns are so dangerous. You need to reapply every couple of hours. DO NOT go out in the sun without it. It's just too dangerous to even contemplate going out unprotected.

 

[Cruz Family]

You definitely need to take advil b/c the skin is inflamed. It will also help with the pain. Keep the burn lubricated and moisturized as much as possible.

PLEASE wear sunscreen!!! One of my best friends died of skin cancer. She died less than two years after her diagnoses. Sunburns are so dangerous. You need to reapply every couple of hours. DO NOT go out in the sun without it. It's just too dangerous to even contemplate going out unprotected.

Thank you for your very wise words and I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[littleladykaty]

Thanks...her name was Wendy and she was the most radiant human being I've ever known. Tall, gorgeous...naturally platinum blond ringlets...gorgeous. The skin cancer ate her alive. There was nothing anyone did that could stop it. Why? Because she was porcelin skinned and burned easily...she used sunscreen when she remembered but if she got a burn it "turned to tan" anyways...no big deal right? Wrong.

Her death won't be in vane if people hear how needlessly her life ended and choose to protect themselves. Skin cancer DOES happen...sun burns are quite literally lethal...as opposed to a nuisance as most people treat them. If you value your life, if you love your families, you will protect yourselves and them every single time you leave the house, make sure you are wearing sunscreen on every part of exposed skin. The sun is NOT our friend, a little color IS NOT okay. Sunscreen works...please use it! When in WDW, remember that as you sweat, you are sweating off your protection. Reapply every couple of hours, just to be safe. A bad childhood burn makes you 50% more likely to develop skin cancer as an adult.

please protect yourselves and your families!!