Badly sunburnt?

Question

Yesterday I went to a creek and swam for 6 hours. And..... I admit it, I forgot to put sunscreen on. My face is badly burning, my shoulders are horriable (RED), and my back his red as well. From reading other peoples sunburn questions on yahoo, I've came up with a few methods...

1. Aloe vera
2. Vinegar - apple cider vinegar
3. White vinegar (gently dab it on)
4. Ice
5. Cold water
6. Hot water
7. Drink LOTS OF WATER.

But I'm afraid if I do any of those methods I'll loose everything, as in it'll just peel, and there will be NO TAN. Which I don't want to happen.
My face is very sensative, so I'm posative it'll peel, thats fine, but my arms, my legs (<-- not bad at all), bikkini (top and bottom) lines, back, arms etc.... I really don't want to peel.

Any ideas??



thank you so much

Answer 1

While I'm not really sure what you can do to prevent peeling, aloe vera is your best solution for sun burn. Aloe vera calms the burn and stops the burn from progressing. When you have a burn that is really bad, for a period of time you can continue to feel the "burn" as if it is going deeper. Aloe vera will calm that feeling and stop the continued burn. I would suggest an aloe vera after sun cooling gel. It's usually green or blue and has a bit of a smell. It will also be very "cold" when you apply it. I have never had a whole lot of peeling and I always use this. So maybe it will help you with that also!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

I had a similar problem recently. I treat sunburn with Aloe Vera and a few drops of (pure) tea tree oil; I squeeze some Aloe into my hand and mix in a few drops and rub it all over the sunburn. This will, however, cause your skin to peel, yes. To combat that, once the aloe and oil combination has soaked in, I cover the burnt skin with vaseline. Depending on what clothing you plan on wearing, however, you may not want to do that, as it might get your clothes a bit greasy. It will wash out, and if you don't put too much on, it won't soak through, but it might get on the insides of them.

I still peeled a little bit; it's only natural when your skin is so destroyed. That, and the only way the pain - and eventual itching - will subside is if the damaged skin is removed, i.e. through peeling. However, I retained most of the color despite my skin having peeled, and I think it's because the burn went so deep and because I took good care of my skin while it was healing.

Good luck!

p.s. don't put ice on your skin - it's not good for any kind of burn. It will only temporarily help with the pain, and it will only serve to dry out your skin which will cause more pain and peeling.

Answer 3

With all the risks of skin cancer, I wouldn't worry about not getting tan!

Take a hot shower (this will bring out the burn)

Then put on aloe vera and blow on it or stand in front of a fan or air conditioner (it helps soothe the burn)

To help prevent peeling, use a moisturing shower gel and blot yourself dry after a shower (don't wipe yourself down with a towel as it could irritate your skin and cause it to start flaking)

Apply body lotion at least twice a day...(like Vaseline Intenstive Care ~ not the Bath and Body Shop kinds...they don't do the trick)

Answer 4

Well the reason I put on the aloe gel is so that I don't peel whenI get burnt. However you should put it on right away. The longer you wait the more likely you will peel. Vinegar would definately sting.

Answer 5

Sweetie forget about the tan, I realize that sometimes pain is beauty but nothing like that, its better to peel and try again, but this time use something and don't stay out as long.
Don't do this to yourself.

Answer 6

Oh I have bad tan lines too where my socks normally are. THe best thing to do about sunburns is to put some aloe-vera on them. And about the tan line just try to tan those spots now more or just wear a shirt like the one you did when you got the tan line.

Answer 7

If you burned as bad as you said, no matter what you use you are going to peel, SORRY!!!
But DON'T use water (HOT or COLD) to releave the pain, it will feel good, but it will also DRY the skin, use the aloe vera, or any other skin moisterizer, or after sun lotion GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Lots and lots of lotion. You HAVE to keep your skin moist, and even with continual moisture you may still peel.

Keep yourself hydrated just so you don't feel sluggish (the sun takes so much out of you).

I really hope you're not in pain...I hate sunburn!

Answer 9

I think you are going to have to forget this one and just accept peeling. You have the rest of the summer to tan.

Answer 10

try putting petroleum jellies to heal your burns and always put sunblock lotion when going out this summer...