The time at the beach or the pool is over, you returned home, and only a few hours later did you start to feel the price: The skin is red, hot, tight, sensitive to touch, and sometimes also painful. The natural inclination is to open the bathroom cabinet and apply the first thing that seems soothing. However, according to experts, some of the well–known home remedies might actually be a poor choice.
"A sunburn is not just a passing aesthetic nuisance, but an acute cutaneous inflammatory response accompanied by damage to our cells," explains Dr. Ella Egozi, a specialist in dermatology and the medical director of the Maccabi Aesthetics network.
So what do you do when you are already burnt? According to Dr. Egozi, the way you treat the skin in the first 24 hours is significant, and it is no less important to know what not to do.
The first hours: The goal is to soothe the inflammation
A sunburn is actually an inflammatory response to damage caused by solar radiation to the skin. Therefore, according to Dr. Egozi, in the first 24 hours one can consider anti–inflammatory treatment and not wait until the pain and swelling worsen.
Non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may help reduce pain, swelling, and the inflammatory response. Use should be in accordance with instructions and subject to personal medical suitability, as this type of medication is not suitable for everyone.
After the initial heat in the skin subsides, the challenge changes. Sun–damaged skin may become dry and sensitive, and its natural protective barrier needs support. At this stage, Dr. Egozi recommends using gentle and soothing products.
In the facial area, where the skin is particularly sensitive, it is recommended to choose a cream designed to soothe irritation and support the skin barrier. When the burn extends over larger areas of the body, light, cooling lotions based on soothing and moisturizing ingredients can be used.
Vaseline and coconut oil? Not in the first stage
One of the common mistakes is to assume that the oilier and richer the substance, the better it will soothe dry skin. According to Dr. Egozi, in the initial stage of a sunburn, it is actually advisable to avoid occlusive and heavy substances.
"A sunburn traps a lot of heat in the tissues. Occlusive substances act just like plastic wrap. They seal the heat inside, prevent it from evaporating, and cause the inflammation to worsen," she explains.
Therefore, she recommends that in the first 48 hours, light lotions or water–based gels should be preferred over Vaseline, coconut oil, and heavy ointments.
Skin peeling? Do not help it
A few days after the burn, the particularly tempting stage sometimes arrives: The skin begins to peel. Despite the urge to remove the pieces of skin, Dr. Egozi warns against doing so.
"The peeling skin serves as a protective shell and as the body's natural protective factor over the delicate skin growing beneath it," she explains. Aggressive peeling could expose skin that has not yet matured and increase the risk of scarring and pigmentation spots.
The same rule applies even more strongly regarding blisters. They should not be intentionally popped, as the action could create an opening for bacterial penetration and infection. Instead, it is recommended to allow the skin to heal at its own pace and use gentle moisture to relieve itching and dryness.
The burn fades, the damage not necessarily
Not every sunburn is suitable for home treatment. The appearance of widespread blisters may indicate deeper damage to the skin and requires medical evaluation, among other things due to the risk of infection and scarring.
A checkup should also be sought when symptoms join the burn that are not limited to the skin, including fever, chills, nausea, dizziness, or severe headaches. These may raise suspicion of dehydration or heat illness.
A change in the appearance of the blisters also warrants attention. Cloudy blisters, purulent discharge, or red streaks spreading from the affected area may be signs of infection and require seeking medical treatment.
The redness and pain do fade, but sunburns are not an event that should be treated as mere temporary discomfort. Excess exposure to solar radiation and recurrent damage to the skin are linked to premature skin aging, the appearance of pigmentation spots, and an increased risk of skin cancers.
The important conclusion is, of course, prevention, but if you are already burnt, the right treatment starts with restraint: Cool and soothe the skin, gently restore its moisture, do not peel, do not pop blisters, and identify in time signs that require a medical checkup.