How to restore sunburned skin

People who have to go out or work outdoors are very susceptible to sunburn. This article provides readers with methods to restore sunburned skin.

Sunburn, why?

When exposed to harsh sunlight for a long time without protection, the skin you exposed to the sun will become red, causing you to feel an uncomfortable burning pain, even swelling, itching, peeling skin..., these are visible signs of sunburn.

The reason is that on our skin there exist molecules called melanin - the dark pigment. This substance has the ability to absorb light with a very wide spectrum and acts as a natural protective mechanism of the skin against ultraviolet rays.

The more sun exposure, the more melanin is increased to protect the skin, making the skin darker and even causing age spots and melasma to appear because the body naturally increases protective pigments, minimizing ultraviolet rays penetrating the skin.

The main culprit for sunburn is UVB rays in sunlight. UVB rays provide energy for the skin to create vitamin D (only before 9am), but they also directly affect the skin's surface, causing darkening, sunburn, and direct damage to DNA, causing a high risk of skin cancer.

Besides, UVA rays are also very dangerous. Although UVA rays do not directly darken the skin, they are more toxic because they can penetrate deep into the dermis layer of the skin, destroy collagen and elastin, causing the skin to quickly lose elasticity and promote the appearance of dark spots, wrinkles, age spots...

When exposed to stronger UVB intensity, the body produces too much melanin, causing it to automatically activate another mode of the body, called apoptosis - also known as cell shedding mode, these cells "understand" that they have "burned to death" and become redundant and unnecessary.

When too many cells self-destruct, the body's immune system begins to intervene, causing a sunburn reaction: blood is rushed to these areas to speed up recovery, often causing them to appear red.

The dead cells form a layer of skin that peels off like a snake's skin, leaving behind new cells underneath and allowing the skin to heal. Sometimes, this self-destruction process is so severe that it can cause severe burns and even skin cancer.

How to restore sunburned skin?

When you see signs of sunburn on your skin, you need to apply the following measures to help heal and soothe the sunburned skin:

Cool the skin as soon as possible.

Sunburned skin needs to be cooled as soon as possible. You can use a cold towel, wet towel, damp gauze or ice wrapped in a towel, gently rubbing it on the sunburned skin to help the skin feel cooler, balancing the temperature of the sunburned skin. Note that do not put ice or a very cold towel (towel in the freezer) directly on the skin as this can make the skin worse.

Instead, expose your skin to ice and cold towels slowly. Depending on your skin condition, you can do this for 10-15 minutes or even for a few hours. If you have a full-body sunburn, you can also take a cool shower to soothe the pain. Afterwards, keep a thin layer of water on your skin and apply a moisturizer all over your body.

Drink plenty of water

Because sunburned skin has lost a lot of water, after cooling the skin from the outside, you need to replenish the necessary amount of water for the body, while helping to soothe the skin. You need to note that to keep the skin healthy, you need to constantly keep the body hydrated. Especially after sunburn, you need to drink more water to help the skin recover as before.

When you see peeling skin, try to drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. Water is very important for the body and skin, helping damaged skin to quickly become healthy and smoother. In addition to filtered water, you can replace it with juices containing lots of vitamins E, A, C such as orange, grapefruit, carrot, tomato...

Apply moisturizer

When your skin is sunburned, use a moisturizer containing aloe vera, mint, camphor or soy to help soothe sunburned skin, reduce irritation and prevent peeling.

Be careful not to use lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine, as they can make your skin feel hotter or irritate it. Be gentle and if you get blisters, don't pop them, as this will make your sunburn worse. Blisters mean you have a second-degree burn. Let the blisters heal and help protect you from infection.

Protect skin during recovery period

When your skin is sunburned, it means that your skin is damaged, so when you go out in the sun, you should use clothes to cover the affected skin area, wear sun-protective clothing, wear sunglasses, and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out, even if it is cloudy.

Harmful rays can penetrate clouds. Don't forget to protect your lips, hands, ears, and neck. Reapply after swimming or sweating heavily. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 to 30. SPF 15 blocks about 94% of harmful rays, SPF 30 blocks about 97%. Look for one that contains zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and avobenzone.

See a dermatologist immediately if you notice any of the following signs:

- Sunburn is usually not dangerous, it only makes the skin dark and will disappear after a while (depending on each person's constitution). However, sunburn is different, it often causes extensive skin damage, the level of redness gradually increases, and can be accompanied by headache, fever and fatigue.

Signs of sunburn usually appear within 2-6 hours of exposure. The most common time for sunburn is between 11am and 2pm when UV levels are highest.

- When you see the following signs, you need to see a dermatologist to avoid the lesions becoming wider and deeper: feeling tired or dizzy; rapid pulse, heavy breathing; feeling cold; nausea, fever or rash; severe blistering...