Help for the Sun's Damages
Okay, well the sun could give you a tan that you might like (even though you might get skin cancer and die in the future), or it could give you a sunburn. Here's what to do to help if you get the latter part of the deal.
Dip sterile gauze in whole milk and dab it on the burned area.
Apply aloe vera gel, or the sap from the leaf of an aloe vera plant, directly onto the sunburned skin.
Ask your doctor about taking aspirin for the discomfort. If he/she allows you, you can dampen a tablet in a little water, and apply topically to the sunburned skin.
REMEMBER, next time you should use that sunblock. Make sure it is an SPF of 15 or higher. Always remember to apply it to the lips, ears, and nose because they burn most easily. And protect the backs of your hands while you're at it.
SOME TIPS - Use cool cloths on sunburned areas and take frequent showers or baths.
Apply soothing lotions that contain aloe vera.
Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may help with sunburn pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Advil) or aspirin may help with sunburn pain. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 20.
Lotion might help relieve the itching.
If your sunburn came with unbroken blisters, do not try to break the blisters. Do not cover the sunburn or blisters unless clothing rubs on them. If clothing rubs, cover the area with a gauze bandage and tape it so the tape is not touching the sunburn or blisters. Do not wrap tape around a hand, arm, or leg. This would cause the blood supply to be cut off if the area swells. If a bandage is used, it should be changed every day and the area should be watched for any signs of infection.
If you sunburn came with broken blisters, clean with a mild soap and rinse well. Pat dry with clean gauze. Good skin care will decrease the risk of infection. You may use an antibiotic ointment on the area of the broken blister and then cover it with a sterile gauze dressing. Ointments such as polymyxin B (for example, Polysporin) or bacitracin can be used if the person is not allergic to topical antibiotic ointments. The ointment will prevent the bandage from sticking to the blistered skin. Cover the blister with a sterile gauze bandage and tape it so the tape is not touching the sunburn or the blister area. Do not touch the area with your hands or with any unclean objects, because broken blisters can be easily infected. Keep the bandage clean and dry. Change the bandage if it gets wet. Most sunburns with blisters should be cleaned and bandaged once a day. Soaking the bandage in cool water just before removing it from the blistered area makes removal less painful. Watch for signs of infection.
To soothe sunburn and prevent blistering, try using white vinegar. Swab it on the burn with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar or soak in a lukewar tub of water with one cup vinegar. A warning to everyone: you will not enjoy the smell. However, the smell is only temporary.
Apply Noxema lotion liberally on the sunburn to soothe and aid the healing of the sunburn.
Milk applied directly to the sunburned area and re-applied often will also soothe and heal sunburns.
Plain yogurt slathered on the burned area and allowed to dry on the skin, then re-applied soothes and also heals sunburn.
If your burn blisters, put some rock salt in a dampened towel and apply it to the blisters. This will help them dry out.
Apply aloe vera liberally and often to skin.
You do not want your sunburn to get worse, so be sure to apply sunscreen everyday, even if you do not plan to go outside.
Many thanks to Jamie at shagmail.com for the info!