If a summer holiday has left you wondering how to heal sunburn, then you have come to the right place. This article will highlight the numerous treatment options available to heal this common skin condition that afflicts about a third of the adult population at some point in their life.
How to Heal Sunburn Itch – Healing Sunburn Itching or What Heals a Sunburn Itch
You spent some time in the sun and came out with a pesky sunburn rash to show for it. And as though that is not painful enough, the affected area of the skin suddenly decides that itching is the way to go, leaving you desperate to know how to heal sunburn itching.
Well, let us start by saying that you should avid the temptation to scratch the sunburn at all cost as this can lead to infection and worsen the condition. Instead here are several interventions that you may want to consider in your quest to heal sunburn itching.
– Get an oatmeal soak. According to the MedicineNet website, oatmeal helps to relieve itchy sunburned skin.
– Steroid creams: Steroid creams such as hydrocortisone 1% creams helps to not only relieve itching but also reduce the inflammation that is characteristic of most cases of sunburn
– Hydration: According to the WebMD website, moisturizing lotions (and creams) such as Cetaphil can help to relieve sunburn related itching.
How to Heal Sunburn Fast – Fastest Way or How to Heal a Sunburn Quickly
Sunburn is a common skin condition that has afflicted around a third of the adult population and as much as 70 percent of children according to the WebMD website. It is thus not a surprise that how to heal sunburn fast is a common concern in online communities focused on healthy and beauty.
Although most cases of sunburn will clear by themselves in just a few days, you can make that annoying sunburn heal quickly using one of the following interventions:
Aloe vera: Aloe vera has strong anti-inflammatory properties and is the first option that comes to mind when someone asks me how heal sunburn. An easy trick is to get a succulent aloe vera plant and squeeze fresh sap from it directly onto the affected areas of skin. Alternatively you can buy a pure aloe vera gel or go for one of the many brands of lotions in the market that contain aloe vera.
Cool Soaks and Compresses: you cannot finish a “how to heal sunburn fast” session without a mention of cool compresses in my own opinion. The idea is to place a wash rag soaked in cool water on the sunburned skin or take a cool shower or bath for 15 to 30 minutes every now and then. This helps to cool the skin.
- You May want to add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to the bathing water to alter the pH of the sunburned skin which then helps to speed up the healing process.
- Adding oatmeal into the bathing water is also helpful, particularly if the skin is itchy.
Hydrocortisone creams: Applying an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream is usually beneficial to sunburned skin. Such creams help to relieve the inflammation and pain and reduce any itching.
Over-the-counter analgesics: OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can also help to reduce inflammation and pain normally associated with sunburn.
Milk: According to the Medicinenet.com website, milk helps sunburn by creating a film of protein on the sunburned skin which then eases the discomfort.
Vitamin E: As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps to lessen the inflammation commonly attributed to sunburn. You can either apply vitamin E oil directly on the skin or take a dose of vitamin E supplements.
Tea: Freshly brewed tea can also help to heal sunburn faster, but you should wait until the tea has cooled down before applying it to the skin. The tannic acid is touted to draw heat from the sunburned areas of skin while restoring the ph of the skin.
Cucumber: the analgesic and antioxidant properties of cucumber can also help to make sunburn heal quickly. Simply mash one or two cucumbers in a blender into a paste and then apply it all over the affected area of skin – including face – for 15 to 30 minutes. Once through, rinse it off with water.
How to Heal a Sunburn Overnight
If a sunbathing session to get that golden tan brought you out with a pesky sunburn rash or blisters and left you wondering how to heal a sunburn overnight – maybe you are schedules to attend an important conference next week- then you will delight to know that most cases of sunburn heal by themselves within no more than week.
Getting cool soaks and applying aloe vera – in addition to keeping the skin moisturized using a moisturizing lotion or cream but not butter or petroleum jelly like Vaseline) – can however speed up the healing process.
Best Way to Heal Sunburn
So what is the best way to heal sunburn? Well, this is a rather tricky question as the effectiveness of sunburn treatment remedies varies from one person to another depending on the extent of the sunburn.
Cool soaks, moisturizing lotions and creams, aloe vera and anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen (for pain) would however make for a safe bet any time in as far as the best way to heal sunburn is concerned.
How Long For Sunburn to Heal
Another common concern among patients affected by sunburn is how long it takes for sunburn to heal. Well, the time it takes sunburn to heal vary depending on the extent of the damage caused.
Most cases of sunburn are 1st degree sunburn which are characterized by reddening, pain and sometime swelling. It is realistic to expect such sunburns to heal in 3 days particularly if you don’t expose the skin to further sun damage, but some may take 7 days (at most).
A second degree sunburn case will typically take longer to heal. This is notable for having blisters which are usually an indication of deeper UV rays damage – reaching beyond the first layer of skin. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, it is realistic to expect a healing time of between 2 to 3 weeks for second degree sunburn.
