Does anyone know a really good cure for bad sunburns?

Question

I recently got a bad sunburn on a large trip to a water park in my area. It is really bad and hasn't started peeling yet but it is the 2nd realy bad sunburn i have gotten in less than a year and last time my back bubbled it was so bad. I need help in cureing this sunburn!! also i need a way to stop getting sunburns besides sunscreen cause i put on sunscreen and i still burn!

Answer 1

I feel for you. The sad thing about sunburns is there is no cure. There is prevention but we all make mistakes and that is what is so upsetting about being burned, knowing we could have prevented it.

Once your skin is damaged by the sun, if it is burned badly enough, nothing you do will save that skin. You can put lotions and ointments on it but that will only delay the inevitable. If it is going to come off-it will eventually.

For the pain, drink as much water as you can stand, try something called "Blue Stuff", it has an anesthetic and aloe in it, take ibuprofen or aspirin and keep the skin moist with lotion so it isn't tight. If it is tight and you are moving around it will stretch and that hurts.

Good Luck

For the future, try the new sunblock sprays, they are easy to apply and do not feel icky on your skin.

Answer 2

You obviously have a pale complexion. First off...before you go for a long day in the sun, you have to create a base tan. You have to go out for little bits at a time until you skin is ready for a long day of sun. As far as help for the sunburn. It takes time mostly. I found that cucumbers feel really good on it....they are sooooo soothing. Just peel it and cut it really thin longways. Then cover your sunburn with it or rub it on your sunburn. Aloe feels really good too. Buy an aloe plant, don't buy creams...the creams usually have alcohol in them, which dries your skin out. Also, for the healing process, use emu oil. Emu oil works great for healing anything skin related.

Answer 3

First you must stop the burn
Use cool wet compresses for first 48 hours. Some report baking soda or vinegar compresses are comforting. Do not use ice.
Cool oatmeal baths (Aveeno, etc.) may be helpful
May use aloe in first 48 hour

NO lotions or petroleum jelly in the first 48 hours!! These hold in the heat!

Apply moisturizing lotions after 48 hours

Aspirin taken as directed on the label may help ease pain

Seek medical attention if fever, fluid-filled blisters, dizziness or visual disturbances are present

Long Term Effects

The sun weakens the skin's elasticity leading to premature aging, such as early wrinkles and a tough, leathery look. Over exposure also leads to the development of flat, scaly, reddish patches called Solar Keratoses, which sometimes are precancerous. The most serious consequence of over exposure to the sun is skin cancer. Over 700,000 new cases of this most common form of cancer occur each year. No tan is a safe tan.

Answer 4

For years my family used actual aloe plant. We had a large one in our yard. We would break or cut off a piece, and then we would rub the newly exposed (the moist inside) part on the burns and it made it better pretty quick.
Unfortunately you either have to keep re-applying sunscreen every hour or so (there has been a lot of news recently about sunscreen companies using things like "all-day coverage" even though it doesn't provide that) to keep it going, or you just have to wear a shirt when you are not in the water, or even when in the water.
Sunburns in water are common because even though you can be underwater, the sun still penetrates it, and it even magnifies it in spots.

Answer 5

Care: Sunburn shows up 1 to 6 hours after being in the sun. It may worsen in the next 24 hours. Get out of the sun or go inside right away. Gently put cool wet towels on the burn or take a cool water bath. Gently put cold cream or baby lotion on the skin. Drink 6 to 8 (soda-pop can size) glasses of fluid like water or fruit juice each day. You may need medicine to lessen the pain, swelling, or fever caused by the burn. You can buy acetaminophen (uh-c-tuh-min-o-fin) or ibuprofen (i-bew-pro-fin) at a drug store. As the sunburn heals, you skin may peel. Do the following to keep from getting sunburned.

If you burn easily, wear loose thin shirts with long sleeves, pants, a hat, and shoes.


Try to stay out of the sun between 10am and 3 p.m.


Use sunscreen or sun block with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. Put it on your skin 30 minutes before you go outside. Put more on every two hours when you are out in the sun. If you are swimming, put more on each time you get out of the water.


Wear sunglasses that protect against "UV" (ultraviolet light).

Answer 6

Get a fresh aloe leaf...can be bought in many large grocery stores for about a dollar. Many people also keep plant in pots, etc.

cut off hard skin and apply the gel/juice on burn. It will soothe the burn and take away the sting.

Put unused portion in fridge...it will get stinky and rot otherwise.

This is not only cheaper but far superior to any aloe derivative products sold over the counter.

Answer 7

Aloe Vera Gel

Answer 8

Vinegar takes the burn away (smells horrible but eases the pain) and there's an aloe that has lidocaine in it which helps too. Vitamin E will help with any blistering. Be careful b/c consistently getting sunburns can cause skin cancer when you get older.

Answer 9

Aloe Vera

Answer 10

Pour "vinegar" onto the burnt area. It WILL take the sting out of the burn. I had a VERY bad burn once from a "sun lamp", I couldn't even sleep for 3 days it hurt so bad. Someone walked up poured vinegar on me, it stung a tad just for a second and then I fell right to sleep soon after. Really douse it on. Don't dilute it, use it full strength. It WORKS!!