Summer is (basically) here, and that means it’s time to ditch the classroom and take multiple trips to the beach. Whether your favorite shore is in St. Petersburg or New Smyrna, there’s one common thread to every beach experience: dealing with the sun.
All your life you’ve been scolded by your parents to put on sun block, but between the excitement of everything going on and the little voice inside your head that said, “I can make it another hour before reapplying. I need to get tan, after all,” you forgot. You return home, happy and relaxed, but when you get out of the shower, your skin is stinging. And it’s bright red.
Ouch!
While Her Campus can’t undo the damage, we’re here to give you some tips on how to control the pain and speed up recovery. Here are your remedy options made from items you most likely have lying around at home:
Aspirin. As soon as possible, take aspirin (this only works within 24 hours of you being burned). It’ll shorten the sunburn process by lessening the pain and reducing sunburn inflammation.
Baking soda. Dissolve ¼ cup of baking soda into cool water, and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz on skin.
Milk. Soak washcloths in whole milk (or buttermilk) to make a cool compress. Apply to burned areas for 20 minutes, repeat every two to four hours. The fat content in milk soothes burns. Don’t forget to wash the milk off afterwards… you’ll smell otherwise!
Oatmeal. Fill a sock with two cups of oatmeal (any kind). Start a bath with lukewarm water and drop the sock in. Drag it around so that the oatmeal permeates, then get in and sit for at least 15 minutes. Pat yourself dry with a soft towel – don’t rub your skin.
Tea. Make a very large pot of tea, using 4 to 6 tea bags. Refrigerate the tea and make compresses with it. Save your tea bags, too – once they’re room temperature, you can put them directly on your skin for some relief.
Yogurt. Plain yogurt contains enzymes and acids that can help your sunburn. Simply apply it onto your sunburned skin and leave it on until it’s dry. Rinse it off with cool water and repeat.
If you’re experiencing a fever/chills, or have blisters or a rash, call your doctor. You could have sun poisoning and may need official medical treatment.
Over the next few days, apply aloe vera liberally. The herb moisturizes your skin.
And we’re obligated to say this for next time – protect your skin!
Always wear sunscreen – at least SPF 30 or higher – and reapply every two hours. Make sure to either cover with a wide-brimmed hat or put sunscreen on the part in your hair. Use lip balm with SPF in it so your lips stay protected. Wear sunglasses to cover your eyes. Try to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when its rays are the strongest.
And remember, it’s worse to be seriously sunburned than a little bit pale.