I got a bad sunburn on most of my upper body. What can I do to help it heal?

Answer 1

cold water is the best first aid when you burn yourself - 20 minutes under the tap is ideal. NEVER ice or vinegar or milk or butter or mustard or toothpaste or sunscreen or semen or vaseline or tomatoes or vanilla extract or yogurt or sour cream or egg white or lavender oil or cocoa butter or salt or tea or potato or shaving cream or olive oil- not until the skin is fully healed! ignore anyone who advises any of these!

i would advise that you cover the burnt area with sterile paraffin wax or aqueous cream bp. (check the links below and see if you can find a local equivalent)

cover the burnt area in paraffin wax after cleaning and removing any burst blisters - these are just sites of infection and will take longer to heal. wash and reapply every 4-6 hours - cover with cling wrap if you wish to cover with clothes - this will stop your clothes getting covered with paraffin and maintains the burn.

cling wrap alone is ok if you can't get hold of any paraffin. it also acts as a protective artificial skin - helping retain moisture and protect from further damage and pain. cling wrap is cheap and clean off the roll. in Australia ambulances often use this when someone has been burnt. - please note that cling wrap isn't always practical, like on your face.

paraffin creates a seal stopping water leaving the body and reduces pain as it protects sensitised nerves. the paraffin imitates the natural oils secreted by the skin. skin cells are better able to multiply and regenerate with this treatment. pain is also helped. make sure you buy plenty of this paraffin - as the burn heals switch to aqueous cream bp.(aqueous cream has a bunch of paraffin in it plus some moisturisers - look out for stuff that also contains sorbolene or glycerine as these help also). following this regime definitely will help your sunburn heal faster and peel less. aloe is good coz it remoisturises but that moisture can be quickly lost as the skin can't contain fluids- this is a function of healthy skin.

so put aloe on, and then the paraffin on over the top as long as there is no broken skin this works great. if there is broken skin leave out the aloe - just paraffin.

long term treatment to prevent scarring or loss of function due to contractures(as skin heals it can tighten reducing how much you can move - a skin graft is necessary to repair this). daily moisturiser, daily stretches - talk to a physio, pressure bandages like tubigrip, massaging the scar. this all reduce/flatten the scar and minimise the need for further treatment/surgery.

please note that this is an explanation based on the many questions that have been asked on yahoo answers. all treatments are used in hospital and when done correctly by a health professional hugely improve the outcomes of burns patients.

http://www.doorone.com.au/xgs-aqueous_cr...

http://www.pharmacyonline.com.au/david-c...

hope this helps - let me know how you go and what similar brands/alternatives are available in your area

email if you still have questions - send photos feedingthedogcustard@hotmail.c...

finally if you are really worried go to a hospital that has a burns unit or plastic surgeons. anything more serious than sunburn should be seen by a burns trained doctor or nurse.

Answer 2

1- Drink A LOT of water! 2- Occasionally sponging the burn with cold water will help it feel better. 3- I've heard that calamine lotion helps with the itching, but be careful not to apply a lot of creams on the burn–skin will heal faster if allowed to breath. 4- Many people have had success with applying aloe vera directly onto the sunburn. This is because the aloe plant is best known for its healing aloe vera gel, a thin, clear, jellylike substance that can be squeezed or scraped from the inner part of the fleshy leaf. A soothing juice is also made from this gel. 5- Sunburns usually heal quickly. Give it a few days. If the burn is accompanied by a fever or upset stomach it may be a sign of dehydration. Slowly drink water or see a doctor.

Answer 3

I get burned very easily. The best thing I have found is to buy an aloe plant,cut off one leaf and use the juice/gel from the leaf. Apply to your skin every couple of hours. In addition, rehydrate yourself from the inside out by drinking lots of water. I have experienced much less peeling this way. Avoid lotions, they keep the heat of the sunburn in causing more damage to your skin leading to peeling and worse, scarring.
Good Luck!!

Answer 4

After many years of major sunburns (I never learned very quick!), here is what worked best in my opinion. Apply white vinegar as often as you need to until the pain stops. You can even pour some in a lukearm bath and soak as long as you can in the tub. Keep corn starch in the freezer and keep your skin powdered with it. It will moisturize, and keep friction from further irritating that burn. Plus it really helps cool that burn from it being in the freezer and will feel so good! Wear only soft cotton clothing, and try not to cover yourself with more than a sheet. You want to let the heat escape for quickest relief. Don;t worry about smelling funny, the vinegar smell goes away very quick and it's so good for burns. Stay away from lotions of any kind until the pain is gone. Then you can moisturize away. I wish you the best of luck and a quick recovery! Remember-USE THAT SUNSCREEN!!!

Answer 5

Ouch! You should put some aloe vera on it to help bring the pain down. Then, for the next couple of weeks don't pick at the dry skin or go outside without putting on sunscreen. Get well soon!

Answer 6

Banana Boat and Fruit of the Earth make the Aloe Vera Gel. I would prefer the Clear one. If you want Noxema, that will also help cool it down. Definitely Aloe Vera.

Answer 7

Sorry Brush....I hope you are drinking lots of water to replenish what you lost during your "sunbathing".....what has helped me in the past was using a mixture of "baking soda and white vinegar"
when you mix the two together it foams up and you take a cotton cloth and hold it on each section of the sunburn for a few seconds..keep rinsing the cloth in the mixture and place it on your body....you will feel the heat of it releasing...as you keep doing this....you might want to call your doctor and ask the nurse for their advice....in case it's more serious....I remember feeling sick to my stomach also from being out in the sun too long...it was not fun....we usually realize we have been out in the sun too long...when it's too late....
Take care...hugs, Mama Jazzy Geri

Answer 8

use lot's of aloe vera gel a wear a plain cotton t-shirt that's been soaked in icy cold water. also you should stay out of the sun for about 4 days to a week (depending on how bad the burn is).

Answer 9

its guna leave ur clothes kinda messy, but aloe vera works wonders. mite pay to wear some old loose shirts for a cupla days coz the aloe will leave them with a greenish tinge. if not try some cold milk. i used both of those n they both work. apparently a sliced tomato on the skin will help too

Answer 10

Put on an old tee shirt and soak it in vinegar, wear it for an hour and then take a cool shower and have someone rub you down with Noxzema.