Even when you’re good about using sunscreen daily, you can still wind up with a painful sunburn. Whether the sun’s UV rays were especially strong that day or you missed a spot when you were applying sunscreen, the end result is a burning sensation that is often painful to the touch.
To make matters worse, you may have an important meeting or presentation the next day. The last thing you want is to show up looking like a lobster. How do you speed up the healing time on your sunburn?
Here are several things you need to know about healing a sunburn quickly:
- To accelerate the process, take cool showers followed by a soothing moisturizer.
- Lay off any skin care products that may irritate your skin, including artificial fragrances and dyes.
- Severe sunburns can cause headaches, swelling and dehydration and may require medical attention.
1. Cool Down Your Skin
The first thing you should do with a fresh sunburn is to cool it down. Cooling your skin will reduce the redness and swelling by restricting blood flow to the sunburned area.
One way to cool down your skin is by placing a cold pack on the area. You can also decrease your skin’s topical temperature by bathing in cold water. We recommend taking a bath in place of a shower because its gentler on the skin compared to the force of water from a shower nozzle.
If you decide to take a cold shower instead, consider using a daily face wash that uses calming ingredients such as Cucumber Extract and Lavandula Oil. Cucumber Extract is especially beneficial for sunburns for its soothing properties. According to a 2012 study published in Fitoterapia, cucumber has the power to alleviate the pain of sunburn while reducing swelling (see claim: “Cucumber also has the power to relax and alleviate the sunburn’s pain.”)
TRY MEN’S SKIN CARE2. Use a Nourishing Moisturizer
After you get out of the shower, be sure to moisturize your sunburn with more soothing ingredients. Look for calming ingredients in the form of lotions with aloe vera and lavender, while also being sure to avoid irritating ingredients such as benzocaine and lidocaine.
Although we may be biased, we recommend using our AM Morning Facial Moisturizer to speed up your skin’s healing processes. The Tiege Hanley AM Moisturizer contains powerful healing ingredients such as Calendula Extract, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Lavandula Oil and Plantain Extract to help accelerate wound healing.
It’s also formulated for sensitive skin, meaning it contains no artificial fragrances or dyes that can irritate your vulnerable skin. By applying a moisturizer that’s chock-full of ingredients that are beneficial to the skin, you can significantly reduce the time it takes for your skin to heal.
3. Drink More Water
Many people don’t realize that moderate to severe sunburns can cause dehydration. Be on the lookout for such symptoms, and remember to drink plenty of water to replenish your body. Water is crucial to skin health and can maximize your body’s healing process by helping deliver important nutrients to the skin.
4. Load Up on Antioxidants
The foods we eat can have a major impact on our body’s ability to heal itself. If you want to speed up your sunburn’s healing process, load your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Specifically, look for foods that are rich in Vitamin C such as strawberries and broccoli. Vitamin C is crucial for skin health and plays an important role in wound healing. According to a 2001 study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, people with low levels of Vitamin C were more likely to have aged or sun-damaged skin (see claim: “Ascorbic acid levels were lower in both epidermis (69% and 61%) and dermis (63% and 70%) of photoaged and naturally aged skin, respectively.”)
Take the skin care quiz5. Don’t Pick, Peel or Scratch
Yes, we know that it’s tempting, but try to resist the urge to pick at your sunburn if it’s peeling. When your skin is peeling, it’s a clear sign that your body has received significant sun damage and is now trying to shed off skin cells that could become cancerous.
Your skin is pretty amazing when you get right down to it. It has the ability to grow a new layer in four to seven days—perhaps less, if you take our advice. The new skin replaces the old skin through the peeling process, which shouldn’t be interrupted because your skin is in a vulnerable state.
Not only do you increase the risk of scarring by picking your skin, you also increase your risk of infection by making it easier for bacteria to get into your skin. So, be patient and let your skin peel away on its own.
Avoid the Sun While You Heal
While you can optimize the healing process, remember that your skin can’t work magic. It needs time to heal itself, so be patient and stay out of the sun while you wait. If you must go outside, remember to wear sunscreen and SPF clothing.
