OUCH!! What do I do to treat a really nasty sunburn?

[JoBelle]

Hey Y'all,

In a fit of out-of-character-ness...lol, I spent the day on the beach yesterday. We did a bit of swimming in the warm Florida waters, then sat in the sugar white sand building castles and being lazy on the softest of beach towels.

But, uhmmm....

There's this thing called the SUN that makes your skin RED when you forget to put on your sunscreen which is in the bag right next to ya! I didn't put it on initially as I wanted to get a tad bit of sun...but apparently they had the sun set on broil because by the time I reached for the bottle, I was already bright red. I seemed to burn faster yesterday than I ever have in my whole life of living on the water. I'm guessing it was that "first exposure this season" aspect. There is also the slightest possibility that I fell asleep in the sun! LOLOL

So, anyway, I'm now this lovely shade of red that hurts! I've got some serious blisters on my shoulders and back and my legs look like they should be dipped in butter. **Hmmm, must remember this for fun later! hehe*

In any case, aside from heading to the doctor's office since it's closed until Tuesday, I'm trying to treat this sunburn at home. I've got the noxema, the calming influence product from Mary Kay, and Aloe Vera Gel. But it still hurts to bend my arms and sleeping...HAH! Riiiight!

Help?? Anyone? Any ideas?
JOBY

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Keep applying the Aloe. Take a nice cold/cool bath. Lie on something VERY soft. Go to your happy place. (Okay, the last one was silly.)

 

[Limeoutsider]

Noxemia

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

An OTC burn ointment is best for the areas that are blistered. You'll want to guard against infection if they open. Gently cleaning any open ones with peroxide will help until you can get to your MD if they don't heal on their own.

Be sure to push fluids as they'll help from the inside out in rehydrating the skin. Avoid applying any kind of oil as this will cause the cooking to continue. Noxema, as lime suggested, is a good option for the areas effected but not blistered. One way to cool the surface without causing more damage is to lay with a cool wet towel draped gently over the burned area. Keep rewetting the towel with cool water. It will actually dry from the heat of the burn.

If you have a deep enough tub, making VERY strong tea and adding it to luke warm bath water will also help, as this draws the heat out and settles nerve endings. You can do the towel idea in the tub if you like. It may be easier initially.

If the discomfort is enough to warrant taking something, Tylenol is best for that. You can also take dry (or fresh) basil and steep it in water to make yourself a cup of tea. The oil in basil leaves will settle down nerve endings.

Hope it eases soon for ya!

Ann

 

[Limeoutsider]

Noxemia is the only thing I do for sunburn, I usually sleep with an ice pack, although its usually only my forearms and face that burn. I caught the flu today (again)

 

[SmileyTkls]

Use great Greek invention, cures everything: Windex. (As seen in My Big Fat Greek Wedding) LOL. Seriously, keep it aloed and/or lotioned, and do see the doc, m'dear. And if your feet were burned, make sure you care for them, too. Gotta keep 'em nice and ticklish.


Your concerned friend,
Smiley

 

[The Pianist]

Hopefully this'll teach you too be more careful next time... unfortunately, cause I'm a red head and living right under the hole... each time I go to the beach with friends I'm the one putting the 30+ on every hour, hiding under any piece of shade I can find... and still being more burnt by the end of the day than my damn greek friend that brings along coconunt scented san tan oil thats barely more protective than a light coating of water!!!...

But yeah... Aleo Vera is nice... and just stay in the shade for a while till it goes away.

 

[JPie1]

ok here goes from someone who has fair skin and has been on the red end of bad burns, after applying treatments as Ann director (I thought hers was very good) the thing that helped me sleep the best was benydryl. Cause you know what happens after a bad burn?? terrible itch as it starts healing!! Benydrl will not only calm the itch but help you sleep as it makes you drowsy.

After trying in my silly teens for the TV tropical tan I am now the ninny on the beach with the wide brim hat, the sunscreen 30 and a tee shirt. I will not win any awards for being sexy on the beach but those that know me from the forum can never believe it when I tell them I will be 42 on my next birthday, not only is sun harmful for your skin as far as cancer goes but it makes you prematurely wrinkle!!! So who will have the last laugh as those bathing beauties with the great tan get older???


JPie

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Using benedryl is fine if you REALLY need it. But, antihystamines dehydrate you...which would make the healing process longer.

Ann

 

[red indian]

Oh Blimey!!!.........

......and here,s me thinking you Americans are street wise and generally savvy regarding hot weather! sounds like the kind of thing a typical sun starved brit would do on holiday in Benidorm!

I have seen the patients skin colour btw and its pretty bad! get well soon you silly septic.

 

[AffectionateDan]

With the voice of experience, I can vouch for...

...Adding a cup of white vinegar to a lukewarm bath. I got this from a lady friend not all that long ago, and it not only soothes the burn/blisters, but leaves your skin baby-smooth. Not that us Grizz aren't already notorious for our snuggly softness, mind you. Sorry about the burnage, Joby. Remind us to torture you for your carelessness at the next Gathering, hmmm? 🙄

 

[Limeoutsider]

Benadryl is, like, the nectar of Gods or something. Thats what I use to help with my insomnia.

 

[TKpervert]

Joby, hope that sunburn is better by now.
What have you done to treat it, and what seemed to work the best ??

and .. of course... don't ever do that again !!

 

[Deleted member 2452]

real alovera cactus pulp.

break off a large piece of alo cactus, and squeez out the "goo" apply it to the sun burned area. it is the best there is.
also take an anti-imflamitory pain reliever such as high dose motrin, or advil.
cool wet wash cloths on the areas, and gentle tickling to non-burned areas, to get your mind off the pain.
steve

 

[JoBelle]

OH MAN! I forgot about this thread. Maybe it's because I wanted to forget about the burn!
😀

I used a few of the sugestions here. The aloe, the tea, the vinegar. They all helped. I'm normally a follower of Judy's hat/sunblock and t-shirt approach. THUS, having to ask for burn advice...lol

The one thing I found was a product called lanaplast (or something like that.) It was soothing like solarcaine, but moisturizing as well. It got me through the first two weeks. It's been over a month and my skin is just now healing on my back. I won't need another reminder. Red was right...it was a nasty color. Now, I'm just back to the original "Jo-Pink."

Thanks for the help guys. Now, to find those tickle spots...and someone to provide tickly punishment for my error. 😛

Jo

 

[sole seeker]

Just checked into this thread for the first time. I know something of first aid, but not the long term treatment of burns.

First aid for a burn is to cool the skin. (For a sunburn, a gentle shower starting out at body temperature and then cooling down works best for me.)

If a burn is so severe that it blisters do not put anything on it. See your doctor, he can give you something for it. The biggest risk is infection, and some of the over-the-counter products and home remedies are more dangerous than helpful. If you're buying something over-the-counter ask the pharmacist about the possibility of infection from using it.

Personally, the best product I've found for minor burns is Foille. Works great and takes the sting out. Should be able to get it at any drug store.

 

[TKpervert]

Best treatment I've found for sunburn is PREVENTION.

Coppertone Sport spf48 slathered liberally over my youthful complexion and I can play golf all day in the boiling sun with no problems at all.

try it, you'll like it.

still can't break 80, but that's just lack of talent.

 

[AffectionateDan]

Amen, TKPerv...

I think the burnee oughta get her hiney paddled because she shoulda KNOWN better!