What's good treatment for a sunburn?

Question

ooooouuch : (

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 or baking soda or banana peel or petroleum jelly or whipped cream or avocado or bacon grease or corn starch- not until the skin is fully healed!

alcohol might help with the pain but it is a serious risk as it will dehydrate you - so don't drink any. ibuprofen or aspirin will help but larger burns are often accompanied by stomach ulcers, so tylenol/panadol is best for pain if you are gonna tough it out. drink plenty of water or energy drinks that don't have caffeine (gatorade)

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). wash the burn 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.

the paraffin imitates the natural oils, creating a seal stopping water leaving the body and reduces pain by protecting sensitised nerves. both of these factors improve healing - good stuff stays in, bad stays out - that is one job of healthy skin. aloe is good coz it remoisturises but that moisture can be quickly lost as the skin can't contain fluids. so put aloe on, and then the paraffin on over the top. if there is broken skin leave out the aloe - just paraffin.

http://www.doorone.com.au/xGS-Aqueous_Cream~NS-1~linkin_id-8009837

http://www.pharmacyonline.com.au/david-craig-paraffin-400g-p-1831.html

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 [e-mail]

finally if you are really worried go to a hospital that has a burns unit or plastic surgeons. serious sunburn i.e. blisters (and all other burns) should be seen by a burns trained doctor or nurse.

Answer 2

Splash apple cider vinegar on the burns. That will prevent blistering and that the skin breaks. Another good treatment is Noxema. It will cool the burn instantly. You have to repeat splashing the vinegar or using the creame, but I did find both of them to be a very good and effective sunburn treatment.

Answer 3

Pure Aloe gel, or Banana Boat After Sun, and you can probably take a Tylenol for the ouchies.

Answer 4

I like aloe vera gel; I put in the fridge so it's nice and cold. Try cold compresses, too.

Ibuprofen can help with pain and swelling as well.

Answer 5

mix witchhazle and epsom salt in a bath of cool water and soak in it then apply aloe preferably straight from the plant if not a good aloe gel

Answer 6

Soak gauze compress in whole milk and apply to sunburn.

Answer 7

red wine vinegar mixed with water, add ice cubes, soak a cloth and lay across the burn. It's cold as all get out, but it takes the firey burn out and helps it heal.

Answer 8

there are sevaral products you can use ex:solarcane but make sure taht the product is rich in aloe

Answer 9

use the alovera plant. split it and put the fluid on the burn until it is heald.

Answer 10

well......... i have an aloe plant so i put that on my sunburns............. it works! but you probably don't have that......... so just put lotion on that since your skin should be dry when you have a sunburn.......... it might sting though............