Really bad sunburn. What to do...

[DarthMama]

I was about to suggest apple cider vinegar but someone beat me to it! If you add some to a lukewarm bath (absolutely not hot water -- you don't need more heat on your skin! and not cold water either, since it will be a real shock to enter cold water), it really takes a lot of the pain out. The scent goes away pretty quickly after you dry off. And even if the scent lingers, it's better than the pain.

 

[TheAviator]

Pure Aloe Vera from the actual plant if possible

 

[Nyerathrt]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I have had many bad sunburns in my life. One of which, blistered really badly. I was a child, and my mom called the local ER, they told her to put Phillips Milk of Magnesia on the blisters and burns. I know it sounds strange, but it works! Hope you heal soon.

 

[pixiewings71]

NO OIL! LOL I know it's been said but it's true, oil doesn't help, not even castor oil. lol

I use aloe gel, pure aloe. I keep it in the fridge so it's cold. I've also used apple cider vinegar compresses when I've been burned as badly as you are, it helps take the sting out and it seemed to help reduce my swelling as well.

 

[TLuvsD]

Try Burts Bees ResQue in the green tin. Works better for D than the Aloe, etc.

Get a STRONG sunblock for use while out in the sun for next month or so. Neutrogena makes a dry tough for faces that is SPF 100 or so. Use it frequently. Or whatever you like, just use it frequently. Getting more sun on the sensitive skin will be really painful.

Other home remedies: vinegar, tea bags (wet and place on skin), cream. Really the one that works for you is the one to use.

 

[horseshowmom]

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

I've used vinegar many times, and it works great for helping with the pain, but I've never had a sunburn as bad as yours. I hope you're better soon.

 

[momrek06]

OP, Oh gosh, ouch.

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.

YES, OP, get your MD to prescribe you a TUB of this. My DS was in a fire over 10 years ago. This was a MIRACLE creme for sure.

 

[moorhunhe]

I've been severely burned due to the sun once when I was 8 or so, and the doctor then said, to put tomatoes on the spots that were hurting the most.
As tomatoes are very moist, it would sink into your skin.

Can only speak for myself, but we putted some slices on one of my arms, just to see if it were really true, and it did take the pain away very good.
(the sight was another story, hehe)

 

[acourtwdw]

The best stuff I have found for a sun burn is mens shaving creme with aloe vera. Don't rub it in, just put it on your skin. Let is sit for a while then an ice cold cloth over the affected area. Sounds crazy but it works every time.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

My sunburn go to is Noxzema. We live in Florida.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

OP, Oh gosh, ouch.




YES, OP, get your MD to prescribe you a TUB of this. My DS was in a fire over 10 years ago. This was a MIRACLE creme for sure.

It really is, but she just posted that she is using it already.

OP, you may need to put a good thick coat if this on, and reapply it when the pain comes back. It should sooth your skin. We never needed to use anything else with it. My daughter had huge bubble blisters all over her face, shoulders and back. Her legs and feet were burnt too. I was livid because I sent her to the beach with sunscreen, and there was a parent there too that was supposed to watch her and make sure it was on. Neither one thought to use it because it was cloudy.

 

[CPT Tripss]

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.

Better to smell like a macaroon and prevent the burn by using a coconut scented sunscreen than smell like a salad after the sunburn!

Try Burts Bees ResQue in the green tin. Works better for D than the Aloe, etc.

Get a STRONG sunblock for use while out in the sun for next month or so. Neutrogena makes a dry tough for faces that is SPF 100 or so. Use it frequently. Or whatever you like, just use it frequently. Getting more sun on the sensitive skin will be really painful.

Other home remedies: vinegar, tea bags (wet and place on skin), cream. Really the one that works for you is the one to use.

It might be worse than painful. Sun exposure on top of a burn really ups the chances of skin cancer in the future.

 

[Maridw]

Cold compresses are one of the best things. Keep rotating them out. As one gets hot, replace it with another one. Make sure the aloe does not have alcohol in it. Alcohol is a drying agent and you don't want to dry the skin out too fast. If you can get aloe gel from a health food store or vitamin store this would be better because it is closer to been fully natural than some of the stuff you buy in supermarkets and such. You could even mix the gel with some lotion. I usually keep mine in the refrigerator so that the cold product feels good on the burn and helps cool it down.

Had burns like this before. It takes time and a bit of effort to keep it from peeling, but it is worth it in the long run.

Good idea about the Vitamin E. I forgot about that. This helps prevent scaring. It does work.

 

[jdb in AZ]

After a bad sunburn where my legs and ankles were so swollen I could barely walk(!) I avoided the sun for awhile, but did get another mild sunburn about a year later. My sunburned forehead actually swelled up from it. It was like an allergic reaction to being sunburned again.

Anyway, please be careful of future sunburns.

 

[palmbeachmom]

I know this sounds really weird, but since I'm on meds that make me very photosensitive, my face burns even with sunscreen on. The one thing that makes me find relief is to dab cold, whole milk, straight from the fridge on my cheeks. It's gross, but I even leave it on overnight. I don't know why, but it helps tremendously with swelling and also seems to make the peeling process less of an issue.

 

[Liberty Belle]

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

I grew up on the beach. We always used vinegar on our sunburns (and I still do some times). Noxema was also another favorite back then.

 

[DisneyLvr55]

Thanks again guys for all the helpful hints.

I took a luke-warm bath earlier, and though it stung like heck getting in, it was soothing for my feet and ankles. When I got out, I put the silvidine back on and the swelling seems to be going down. The pain is almost 100% gone too, thank goodness. Hoping to be able to use the covers on my feet tonight when I sleep, because last night, I wasn't!
Thanks again!

 

[runsandjumps]

Fresh aloe. Really anything that is food related is your best bet. Milk, tomatoes, cucumbers- and drink a lot if water. You have to replenish the water loss. Hope you heal fast and don't peel too bad.

Reminds me of gold member.

 

[goofinoff]

Tea. My daughter got a pretty bad sun burn in Florida this year and my mom read to soak a cloth (one that you don't really care about because it stains) in a pot of tea. Apply the cloths to the sunburned area. She could literally feel the heat being drawn from her burn.

 

[CupcakeKelly]

After a bad sunburn where my legs and ankles were so swollen I could barely walk(!) I avoided the sun for awhile, but did get another mild sunburn about a year later. My sunburned forehead actually swelled up from it. It was like an allergic reaction to being sunburned again.

Anyway, please be careful of future sunburns.

This! When I was younger I got a sunburn that was so bad that the skin on part of my face actually melted and kind of collected on my chin, it looked like a melted candle. Also, my chest, neck and shoulders were covered in water-filled blisters. I stayed inside for a week solid and took a lot of cold baths and ibuprofin.