sun burn

[NotUrsula]

First off, go buy a cotton thermal blanket, the kind with the open basket weave -- if you've been living with an Army blanket, it will change your life. Get from Tuesday Morning or Marshall's; it won't cost very much at all.

As to remedies, the best one I've used that you can actually "wear to work" under clothing is Burn Jel Plus. It's good stuff. (The Water Jel company now also makes a product specifically for sunburn, called UnBurn, but I haven't tried it yet.)

 

[flying_babyb]

The itching is the hard part right now. I so wanna scratch

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Treat it like you would any burn--Take something by mouth for the pain, and make sure to lotion, lotion, lotion! Do they still make Noxema? I used to use that stuff on my sunburns in my youth, and it really made it feel cooler.

I was also going to suggest Noxema. And yes they still make it. I have also heard White Vinegar works well but I have never tried that.

 

[Maridw]

Soak wet cloths in ice water. Change out as soon as they get warm. Keep doing this until you no longer feel any heat from the burn. Then use either a lotion with aloe vera gel in it or aloe vera gel - I always keep mine in the frig. That way it also cools down the burn too.

The burn will keep cooking until you get all the heat out of it. This has been recommended by a friend and it always works.

plus this will also keep it from peeling.

 

[flying_babyb]

What do I do about further sun exposer? I am wearing a thin cotton (the dwafty kind) shirt. sun screen hurts.

 

[Lintasare]

What do I do about further sun exposer? I am wearing a thin cotton (the dwafty kind) shirt. sun screen hurts.

It's called sunblock. The only proven way to keep from getting burned is to use it and use it often. Clothes do not stop the sun's rays from getting to your skin.

As for the itching...buy some Aveeno oatmeal bath. It's made to sooth itchy skin.

 

[flying_babyb]

the sun screen HURTS to put on right now. Its not like my burned area is totally exposed. I would love to just stay inside.

 

[OctMtnWoods]

I would make it a point to stay out of the sun until it feels better. Wear sunblock. Cover with clothes. Hat. Carry an umbrella if you have to.

That hasn't been a problem here in the east. We've had rain going on 3 wks I think.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I got a really bad sun burn to my legs while water skiing. (this was years before sunblock was a common item) The wife of a friend put some white vinegar on the burns and it gave relief from the itching.

Years later while doing a desert survival course, we got sunburned UNDER owr clothing (military type desert camos) I now use the highest bullfrog I can find!!

 

[NotUrsula]

I would also suggest staying out of the sun as much as possible until it heals. If you can carry an umbrella when you must go outside, that will help. If you have to work outdoors, put on a light-coloured long-sleeve cotton shirt and light-coloured long skirt or trousers if your legs are burned.

Are you putting spray sunblock on or the sort you have to apply by hand? If you are rubbing it on it is the friction against your skin that is hurting.
Spray should be better; I find that the Neutragena stuff doesn't burn raw skin as much.

Really, try the Burn Jel; it forms a coating over your skin that protects you from friction pain. It also has lidocaine in it, so you won't feel the itching so much. It won't guard you from the sun, so use fabric for that. Also, take an oral antihistamine to help with the itching.

BTW, about getting sunburned THROUGH clothing -- believe it! When I was a kid in school in the deep South I spent an enormous amount of time outdoors, and though I used sunscreen on my exposed skin, I knew I was getting sun through my clothing, too. I always had "tan lines" where my underwear ended. I've got sun-scarred shoulders, and on a hot day they always feel like they are on fire under my clothes unless I put sunblock on before I dress.

 

[flying_babyb]

I wore spf 50 and still burned LOL. Well it hurts less and ive mananaged to stay out of the sun a whole day (hard for a preschool teacher).