Really bad sunburn. What to do...

[DisneyLvr55]

On Saturday I went to my husbands baseball tourney. It was in PA and the temps were supposed to get to upper 60s maybe low 70s at most. Being only the beginning of May, never thought to bring any type of sun tan lotion with us. That, was a mistake.

I have, what I can only describe as sun poisoning on my feet, face and chest (though much less so on my face and chest). I developed one small blister on one ankle yesterday, and this morning half my face is a bit swollen.

I have been putting AfterBurn on my feet and ankles since Sunday, and last night my husband came home with silvidene (sp?) for me which I also put on my feet and ankles. I just put Oil of Olay on my face. I've also been taking ibuprofen as well. Since the swelling on my face this morning, my husband ran out and got me vitamin E which I put on my face, as well as my feet and ankles. I've also put cold compress on my feet and ankles.

I'm leaving for Florida on Friday, and I can't even get a pair of shoes on right now. Other than doing everything that I've said, and drinking a lot of water, is there anything else you can recommend to help get all of the swelling down?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go to the doctor and get checked out. There are prescriptions you can get.

 

[mickeywho?]

And STOP using any products with oil - ie Oil of Olay. Aloe gel, cold compresses will work well.
Head to the doctor today and have it checked out.
I'm fair-skinned - suffered my worst sunburns throughout my life in springtime.

 

[jgh]

I also agree not to use oil.

Get some good green Aloe Gel (the cooling stuff feels good).

If it's as bad as you're describing though you probably want to go to the doctor too.

If you're fair skinned it's always good to wear some type of SPF all year round. You can get burned even when it's freezing outside, and even if you aren't burned it's still UVB exposure.

 

[ronandannette]

Ooooo, so sorry for you; I burn like that too. Try cold-compresses and aloe gel (and maybe an actual burn dressing for the blister). I'd lay off the Olay as it has chemicals that are likely too harsh for damaged skin.

Get ready for the "peel" phase, which is SO disgusting, and think about trying BioOil later on for any lingering discoloration (I burnt my legs below my capris last spring and you could still see that "line" at Christmas).

ETA: a few beat me to the compress/aloe advice - please try it!!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

This happened to my daughter a few years ago. I called the doctor and he called in some Silver Sulfadiazine cream USP 1%. It is a miracle cream for all kinds of burns, especially sunburn. I believe all you have to do is call your regular doctor and they can call it in. This cream will give you instant relief from the pain and it really helps with swelling. It may even prevent peeling.

This cream is what they use in hospitals for burn patients.

 

[wilma-bride]

I second the recommendation for Aloe gel. My DH got really badly sunburned feet a few years ago and used this. It took a couple of days but the swelling/soreness eased massively after regular use.

 

[Laura66]

LOTS of water - and I mean guzzle it all day and Advil or Motrin. My neighbor is a nurse and she told me to do this when I got a severe burn last year. It really works because the Advil will address the swelling and the burn is sucking all the water from your body.
I also use masking tape (gross I know) if I do start to peel and get all the dead skin off at once.
If its really severe I would see a doctor though.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

You might want to try a small dose of an antihistamine.


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[teacup princess]

If you go to the doctor he/she would most likely give you a prescription for Silvadene. Continue the cold compresses, aloe Vera, ibuprofen, and maybe hydrocortisone cream. Try to resist the urge to pop any blisters or peel the skin.

 

[wiigirl]

LOTS of water - and I mean guzzle it all day and Advil or Motrin. My neighbor is a nurse and she told me to do this when I got a severe burn last year. It really works because the Advil will address the swelling and the burn is sucking all the water from your body.
I also use masking tape (gross I know) if I do start to peel and get all the dead skin off at once.
If its really severe I would see a doctor though.

x2 on lots of water. My DH is really fair skin, got a bad burn and his doctor told him to try to drink over a gallon of cold water a day.

Also to just keep putting moisterizer on....I got one over the counter at the pharmacy with a topical anastetic which helped.

 

[mickeyboat]

DD's dermatologist recommended hydrocortisone cream. The one I got DD also has aloe in it. DD said she does feel some relief. The derm also said that if that does not help, she would prescribe something. If you are really suffering, a trip to the doctor's is probably in order.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I am the queen of bad sunburns, and I can tell you that the swelling should not last for more than a few days. You should be much improved (though probably very itchy and peely) by Friday (aloe actually helps reduce the peeling, too). Sorry that happened to you

 

[HM]

My DS seems to be allergic to those bottled Aloe Gels for aftersun. It HURTS him to use it. I would not suggest it. Get real aloe if you want to use it. But, to me it sounds like you should see a doctor to get something that will really work.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We always make a jug of really strong iced tea, soak old washcloths in it, and lay the wash cloths on our skin for a while, resoaking them when they get warm. The tea has soothing properties and prevents blistering.

I also get silvadyne (sp?) from the doctor for really bad burns.

 

[DisneyLvr55]

Thanks for the replys guys - Really appreciated.
Like I said (but probably mispelled...) I'm already using the silvidine. Its medical name is Silver Sulfadiazine cream USP 1% like one poster put. The vitamin E gel I'm putting on is actually an Aloe gel, so I've got that covered too. My husband is also going to bring home some benadryll because he heard that works too.

Has anyone heard of putting vinegar on a sunburn?

Thanks again for all the posts

 

[jrmasm]

Thanks for the replys guys - Really appreciated.
Like I said (but probably mispelled...) I'm already using the silvidine. Its medical name is Silver Sulfadiazine cream USP 1% like one poster put. The vitamin E gel I'm putting on is actually an Aloe gel, so I've got that covered too. My husband is also going to bring home some benadryll because he heard that works too.

Has anyone heard of putting vinegar on a sunburn?

Thanks again for all the posts

That was the standard home remedy for sunburn when I was a kid. Dries the crap out of your skin. There are much better options available now.

If you have swelling and blistering, I think seeking medical treatment should be your first step.

 

[Bearybear]

I'll add to the recommendation of aloe. All summer I keep a bottle of it in the fridge because the cold aloe on sunburns feels so good.

But if you are blistering, call your doctor.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Castor oil is supposed to be good for sunburns. I've never personally tried it but, castor oil is supposed to be really helpful in healing skin and I think it helps with inflammation also.

 

[shortbun]

No oils. We used cider vinegar compresses at the beach for mild-not blistered sunburns. It takes the burn right out and the next day you're good. Warning, you smell like a salad. My neice was horrified that she smelled like a salad. She said she would rather be sunburned. She was 20. I once soaked my feet in cold whole milk on advice from a doc in the ER. It really helped.