What do i do for a sunburn? Should it itch?

Question

I just got back from the beach and I got a sunburn in a few areas that I missed when I was putting on sunblock. I can remember having sunburn before. Is it suppose to itch? I took a show after I got home (to washed my hair and get the sand off of me), but i was told that was a mistake because the soap would 'dry it out'. What should i do now, that i caught it quick, but stil made that 'mistake'? Should I rub it with oitment or lotion? I dont have anything special, and i dont plan on running out for any, becaus ethis does happen often and it isnt a large area.

I can't remeber having sunburn before...whoops

I guess its dry skin lotion and neosporin.

Answer 1

If you don't feel like going out, you have plenty at home to help the burn.

If you have milk, lettuce, frozen vegetables, oatmeal or a host of other items, you have sunburn relief!

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/48/199.cfm

Answer 2

The itchiness is caused by inflammation within the skin. Some soaps will dry your skin out, but there are some body washes out there that have a moisturizer in it like Dove. The scented ones are the ones you want to stay away from. Some of the over the counter sunburn relief medications will help. Aloe with some form of topical lidocaine or benzocaine will temporarily alleviate the burning sensation. Look at the active ingrediedients for some type of "caine". That medication will have the numbing effect. If you don't have a sensitive stomach, take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). 800mg every 8 hours is the maximum dose you can take for an adult. Alleve has Naprosyn in it, another type of anti-imflammatory which might work also. These medications won't take the pain completely away, but will make the discomfort a bit more tolerable.

Answer 3

Regular soap does dry out your skin and you will start to peal even faster. Try using Olive Oil Soap. It puts oil back into your skin and doesn't dry it out. It is made in Greece, and you haven't seen many Greeks with sunburn, so it must work! We use it and it will keep your skin, soft and help with anti-aging also. Try using like a Gold Bond body powder on the sunburn that burns and make sure it is medicated, because it will help right away. I have had to deal with many sunburns in my lifetime, so these are the rules we follow! There is also a product out called "After Tan" and it helps keep your skin from drying out, you put it on after getting out of the shower. Hope this helps you! Lilbitevil2 in Florida!

Answer 4

Put aloe on it. I know you don't want to buy anything special, but aloe is also good to have for when you burn yourself in the kitchen, and is also just good for your skin, period.

You can get it pretty cheap at most stores. It's best if you can buy a bottle of pure aloe or one with aloe and a pain med in it (to ease the discomfort).

This will ease the discomfort now, and it will help with the itching and the skin peeling that comes with being sunburned.

If it blisters, go to the Dr.

Answer 5

To speed healing take the following supplements for a few days after getting burned: 1,000 mg of vitamin C, 400 I.U. of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene, and 1-2 tablespoons (or about 3 capsules per teaspoon) of flaxseed oil, an essential fatty acid.

Caution: don't ever cover a sunburn that is blistered or open with an ointment, oil, salve or butter, for it will make the area susceptible to infection.


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Remedies
Folk
Aloe Take as many leaves as necessary from an aloe plant; refrigerate; peel off top layer of leaves; apply the side of the leaf with flesh exposed directly to the sunburn. Other remedies use aloe vera juice: for mild to medium sunburn, keep the affected area moist with aloe vera juice. Repeat frequently. This will reduce the pain and the amount of peeling. Aloe vera ointment works well, too, as it contains oil and will not evaporate. For a severe sunburn, keep the area moist at all times with aloe vera juice. Since aloe vera is an astringent, you may want to use aloe vera ointment or some sort of oil, such as olive or baby. Aloe is very effective in relieving pain and inflammation.

• Combine aloe juice with ½ the amount of vitamin E. Dab on the sunburn. Vitamin E is a good moisturizer.

Apple cider vinegar Apply apple cider vinegar to the burn with a cottonball, or make a cooling compress for a large area to relieve the pain. Keep the skin moistened. This remedy will prevent blistering and peeling.

Aspirin Aspirin kills the pain and reduces inflammation and redness of a sunburn. It short-circuits the whole sunburn process. It must be taken within 24 hours of getting sunburned. Aspirin is preferable to ibuprofen or acetaminophen because it is less stressful on the liver and kidneys.

Baking soda Dissolve some baking soda in water and make a compress using a clean cloth. Another remedy is to add 1/2 cup of baking soda to a tepid bath and soak. Instead of drying the affected area with a towel, let it air dry. Baking soda is cooling and will help the skin retain moisture.

Baths Add 20 drops of each of lavender and chamomile essential oils to a tubful of cool water and soak for 10 minutes.

Bergamot Add bergamot oil to cool bathwater.

Calendula Put 20 drops of calendula tincture in four ounces of water and bathe the skin until the pain goes away. Calendula is also available in gels and salves. Calendula will help soften and heal burned skin. It is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, and can be used long after the burn to heal the skin.

Cucumber Rub sunburned area with fresh cucumber slices. They are very cool and will soothe the area.

Epsom salts Dissolve epsom salts in water and make a compress using a clean cloth.

Ice Apply ice or cold water to the burned area. This will stop the burning process and cool the skin.

Lavender Mix 20-25 drops of lavender oil in one cup of water and bathe the sunburned area.

Lemon water Mix the juice of three lemons into two cups of cold water and sponge on the sunburn. The lemon will cool the burn, act as a disinfectant, and will promote healing of the skin.

Milk Make a compress of whole milk (or buttermilk) and apply to the burned area for 20 minutes; repeat every two to four hours. Wash the milk off so you won't smell sour! The fat content of the milk is soothing for burns.

• A similar remedy suggests using a cup of skim milk and four cups of water, adding a few ice cubes, and applying as a compress as recommended above.

Oatmeal Put some oatmeal in tepid bath water, soak for a few minutes, then air dry yourself.

Oil Cover the area with cooking oil and sprinkle powdered ginger on the oil. This will promote healing.

Onion Bruise an onion and rub on the burn.

Peppermint Apply peppermint oil to the sunburned skin. You can also make a mild peppermint infusion and use it as a wash to cool the sunburn.

Potato Grate a potato and apply it to the burned area. The starch will cool and soothe the burn.

St. Johns Wort Make an ointment or salve with the essential oil of St. Johns wort for burns that have not broken the skin. It is anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial. Caution: St. John's wort makes the skin more photosensitive, so stay out of the sun if you have used this remedy or if you are taking another form as an antidepressant. The cauton is courtesy of a reader named Wendi.

Shower Take a warm shower to draw out the heat of your sunburn. The warm water will increase circulation to the area while hydrating it, thereby speeding the healing process.

Tea Make some tea, cool, and apply to the burn. While any tea may be beneficial, mint tea, such as peppermint or spearmint are especially good. The teas have tannins that help the healing process.

Urtica urens Put 20 drops of urtica urens tincture in four ounces of water and bathe the skin. This remedy is good for itchy, prickly skin.

Vinegar See Apple Cider Vinegar remedy above.

Witch hazel Make a decoction of witch hazel and apply with a compress.

Yarrow Native Americans used an infusion of ground yarrow as a wash.

Yogurt Apply plain yogurt with live cultures, let it stand for a few minutes, then rinse off under cool water.

• Another remedy using yogurt is to mix equal parts of yogurt and mashed strawberries and apply to the sunburned area for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Caution! You may have sun poisoning if you experience chills, fever, or get blisters or a rash. See your physician!

Source(s):

http://www.health911.com/remedies/rem_su...

Answer 6

suntan lotion even after and ice lots of ice and stay out the sun for a while

Answer 7

Try using Aloe with lidocain. Its worked very well for me.

Answer 8

do have any noxema? aloa vera lotion(the green lotion)?
what kind you have so we know what would work without buying more?
there might be something you have that might work too. but those 2 worked best for me.

Answer 9

Then suffer

Answer 10

it should itch because that means it is healing.