Red skin after sunbathing – what to do? Home remedies

Sometimes erythema appears on the skin after intense sunbathing. Red skin is not only unattractive, but above all, it can be very painful. You can easily remedy this situation with home methods.

If you are going on vacation, it is essential to take care of your safety and proper care of sensitive skin. It is advisable to protect yourself from the adverse effects of the sun’s rays beforehand. What should you know about sunburn resulting from excessive sunbathing? We explain in the article.

Causes of sunburn

In summer, many people decide to sunbathe intensely, as an essential part of trips to the lake or sea. In this situation, we sometimes forget to be careful in the sun and do not apply the right creams with protective SPF often enough. Sunburn usually occurs if the sunscreen has not been applied thoroughly or if we have chosen too weak cosmetics. This can also be caused by applying sunscreens only in the morning and then skipping reapplication, e.g. when spending hours on the beach.

What to do if you have red skin after sunbathing?

Unfortunately, sunburn symptoms cannot be eliminated in one day. However, you can significantly alleviate the discomfort. First of all, it is worth to act on the annoying burning sensation. Pharmacy cooling gels with aloe vera extract will soothe the unpleasant sensation, and at the same time accelerate the healing process of the damaged skin.

If the skin surface hurts when touched, we can expect the appearance of blisters with fluid. It is worth remembering not to pierce them in any case, but wait until they are absorbed by themselves. Burn products containing shea butter or vitamins A, E, F will help.

Cool shower or bath – why is it worth it?

The best first aid for a severe sunburn is a cool shower. Letty water will soothe both the burning and the feeling of throbbing heat. It will also help in cleansing the skin from sand residue, as well as from salty, skin-irritating water. It’s important to remember that the shower should be cool, but not icy, to prevent thermal shock.

The shower should last about 10 minutes. It is important not to rub the skin after the procedure, and to use only soft towels for gentle wiping.

Home compresses

A great way to relieve pain and speed up recovery is to make compresses. Here are some proven options:

• cucumber compresses – we can use slices, peel or juice of cucumber. After grating fresh cucumbers you can apply them on the burning area. It is recommended to leave them for 15-20 minutes, and this process is recommended for local burns. For a full body burn, this may not work;
• aloe vera compresses – applying fresh aloe vera juice has a soothing effect on burned, reddened skin. Aloe vera works great for large body burns;
• tomato poultices – this solution is used for small areas of the burned body. Simply cut a tomato in half and rub the inside of the tomato over specific areas of the burn;
• ice packs – for specific, small areas of the body an ice cube can be used to rub the burning skin;
• potato flour compress – Mix potato flour with water to create a paste that can be applied to the burned area. Apply a thin layer, which should be rinsed off when it begins to harden. If you can, replace the water with milk (preferably curdled or sour).

If you’re not a fan of tanning, then invest in a self-tanner.

Main photo: Armin Rimoldi/pexels.com