by Rebecca Mikulin

Created on: July 29, 2011   Last Updated: July 30, 2011

No matter how careful you are in the hot summer sun, there’s always a chance that you may end up with a sunburn. Doctors recommend wearing sunscreen, even if you don’t normally burn, in order to help protect the skin from UV-related damage. This damage can lead to anything from liver spots and other discoloration to skin cancer over time. However, these sunscreens may only be effective for a few hours, or may wear off through swimming, toweling, contact sports, or other such factors. It’s easy to forget to re-apply sunscreen if you’re out for a day of fun in the sun. Sunburns are usually not serious, but they can be uncomfortable or even painful. Luckily, they’re easy to treat in order to help alleviate the pain, irritation, heat, and swelling that may accompany the burn, as well as protect your skin’s health during the healing stage.

Mild to Moderate Sunburn

Sunburn is considered mild to moderate if it’s pink or red, and includes little or no blistering. A small amount of blistering is considered anything smaller than the size of a quarter. These are generally safe to manage at home, as there is little chance of secondary infection or other serious complications.

One of the most effective and widely-used topical remedies for sunburn is 100% pure aloe vera gel. This gel is widely available in most drug stores, department stores, and health stores. Aloe vera helps soothe and cool your skin, making it more comfortable and helping reduce the appearance of the burn. When purchasing aloe vera gel, make sure to read the ingredients to make sure you’re getting pure gel. Some products contain potentially dangerous ingredients such as lidocaine or benzocaine, and others are mentholated or contain other potentially irritating ingredients. The pure gel is considered hypoallergenic, and works very well on even the most sensitive skin.

Just as with direct-contact burns, sunburn pain can be relieved to a point – and damage may be slightly reduced – by taking a cool shower or bath directly following sun exposure. Cool wet washcloths or towels may also help, but use these with caution – the rough texture of terry cloth may irritate burned skin, or heat may be held in if the towels aren’t changed often enough.

Refrain from using any kind of lotion or petroleum-containing products for at least the first 24-48 hours. These tend to hold heat in, and may actually increase the discomfort or irritation associated

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