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Soothing Relief for Sunburn

Everyone has a different tolerance for sun exposure. Some people can spend an hour or more in the sun without sunscreen and barely tan. Others can spend just a few minutes outdoors while wearing a SPF 15 sunscreen and still experience the pain and tenderness of a sunburn. Knowing your skin is key to preventing sunburn. When it's too late for prevention, though, a few simple steps can be taken to minimize the after effects of sunburn.

Sunburn is caused by the sun's Ultra-Violet-B rays, which bombard the skin with radiation. Tanning is the skin's natural defense against sunburn: the UV rays trigger melanin production, which rises to the top of the skin to shield against the UV rays. However, once the skin runs out of melanin, sunburn starts to set in. People with fair skin have less melanin than people with dark skin, making them likely to burn much more easily.

A sunburn usually starts to appear within the first few hours after sun exposure. Common signs are a pink or red hue to the skin, sensitivity to touch, headache or fever, swelling, and small blisters. Sunburn is most often experienced on those parts of the body that are overlooked when applying sunscreen: ears, lips, scalp, and even the eyes.

When these areas a feeling the aftereffects of sunburn, a simple ointment such as Dermalogica After Sun Repair will help ease the pain and speed the healing. This lightweight formula helps to reverse the UV damage to the skin by using a blend of seaweed extracts and soothing botanicals. By neutralizing the free radicals released by the sun, it helps lead to a speedy recover. Moisturizing hyaluronic acid also helps leave the skin smoother and less irritable.

Another botanically enriched treatment is Sun Rescue Gel from Cellex-C. Formulated with peppermint and grape seed extracts, this soothing gel can be used anywhere on the body to alleviate mild sunburn.

For painful sunburns, often the best relief comes from a soothing mist, such as Avene Thermal Spring Water or Kinerase Hydrating Antioxidant Mist. Each of these douses the skin is hydration while helping to alleviate sunburn sensitivity.

It is important to know when a sunburn is too severe for at-home remedies. If you experience symptoms such as blistering over large portions of the body; high fever, extreme pain, confusing, vomiting or diarrhea; persistant symptoms for more than a few days; or signs of infection, seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Of course, sunburn is a malady that needn't be experienced. By taking a few precautionary steps, you can guard your skin against sunburn and never have to deal with any of the unpleasant symptoms. One way to ensure optimal sun protection is to use a daily sunscreen product that does double-duty, such as Anthelios SX, which is a soothing daily moisturizer, or Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals, a silky liquid foundation.

Article posted 7/30/2007.

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Hydrating Antioxidant Mist by Kinerase $35.00

Thermal Spring Water by Avene $11.00

Anthelios SX by La Roche-Posay $29.95