Is it possible to turn a sunburn into a tan, or is a folklore tale passed down through generations? According to dermatologists – yes, its possible. But, they urge you take every sun precaution possible.
First things first, you should know there’s no safe way to tan. Going out in the sun unprotected is dangerous, and every time you do so you increase your risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.
That being said, humans aren’t perfect and sometimes you end up in the sun without protection. If that happens to you, and you get a sunburn, take these measures to help your burn turn into an even tan.
Hydration
Ever notice your feel fatigued, thirsty, and groggy after a rough sunburn? These are symptoms of dehydration. Sun and heat draw water and salt out of our body which results in dehydration. Rehydrating your body will not only help you feel better on the inside, it will help your sunburn too. Our skin is the biggest organ in our body. Never underestimate the power of hydrating from the inside-out.
Pain relievers
Pain relievers like Ibuprofen (Advil) contain anti-inflammatory properties as well as pain-relieving properties. When skin is sunburned, its often inflamed, angry, and red. Over the counter pain relievers will help manage the pain as well as in the inflammation, allowing you to heal quicker and easier.
Moisturization
Thanks to the sunburn, your skin is dry, depleted, and in major need of moisturizer. A moisturizer with aloe vera (a natural moisturizer, healer, and all-around miracle worker) will be your best bet in repairing your skin and preventing peeling. For added cooling pain-relief, put the moisturizer in the fridge.
Apply vigorously, and don’t skimp on the product. Your skin needs all the moisture it can get.
Tag Archives: sun damage
Is salt water good for your hair and skin?
With summer in full swing, we find ourselves spending more time at the pool and beach. With salt-water pools and naturally salty ocean water, you may be wondering if salt water is good for your hair and skin.
Skin
Salt water is full of vitamins and minerals. These nutrients are especially beneficial to those with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Salt water has healing properties. Ever heard of taking a salt water bath? Or doing a soak in Epsom salt? Salt water helps to detoxify the skin, treat injuries, and reduce swelling.
Hair
The nutrients present in salt water work well at breaking down your hair’s natural oils. So if you’ve got overly oily hair, salt water can help keep your hair’s oil levels balanced.
Salt water opens up your hair’s cuticle which means damage for colored hair. Salt will cause your color to fade and look dull.
Salt water is dehydrating. Because of osmosis, salt water actually pulls water out of your hair’s strands. This will leave hair feeling dry and dehydrated.
In summary:
Pros – salt water is full of vitamins and minerals, has natural healing properties, helps balance out oily hair
Cons – its dehydrating and damages colored hair
What can you do?
Rinse hair with plain water before taking a dip in the ocean
Use a leave in conditioner before and after spending the day at the beach
Use hair products with SPF to protect your strands from harmful sun rays
Sunburn prevention and recovery
It’s officially summer here in southern California. And with the nice weather comes more time spent outside in the sun and heat. Unfortunately, this also means increased risk of sunburn.
Sunburns effect over 33% of adults and 70% of children every year. While many individuals are familiar with skin damage caused by harmful UV rays, the prevalence of sunburns has not seemed to decrease.
Thankfully, there has been lots of research and information over the past 10 years regarding the benefits of wearing sunblock. Sunblock works by creating a chemical barrier between your skin and the sun’s rays.
While wearing sunblock greatly reduces your risk of sunburn, it is still possible to get sunburned even while wearing sunblock.
Sweat, water, and time all wear down on sunblock and reduce your coverage and protection. Your best defense in protecting your skin is to follow your sunblock’s directions, reapply often, and utilize physical coverage like clothing or shade.
Sunblock should be reapplied every 90 minutes to be effective. If you’re sweating or in and out of the water, reapply sooner at the 1 hour mark. Make sure your sunblock has a high SPF and blocks both UVA and UVB rays for the most comprehensive coverage.
If you do find yourself red and burned after a day in the sun, your skin may need some help in healing itself quickly and efficiently. Bad sunburns left untreated can blister, peel, and leave behind permanent scarring.
Below are some tried and proven tips to reduce the time you’re sunburned and get your skin back to its normal healthy state.
Aloe Vera – aloe Vera is an all natural skin calming remedy. The healing liquid is found within the leaves of an aloe plant. If you don’t have an aloe plant, don’t worry. You can find aloe vera gel at any store. This plant works extremely well at calming the skin and promoting healing. It’s a tried and true method to reducing and healing sunburns.
Vitamins and antioxidants – vitamins such as A and E and antioxidants are great for the skin. Taken internally and externally, they promote healing and recovery through cell regeneration. They even help protect your skin from future sunburns.
Moisturize – this might seems obvious or simplistic but when we’re sunburned our skin is lacking moisture. You need hydration internally as well as externally. Be sure to drink tons of water and lather yourself often with a thick, absorbent moisturizer. This two-prong approach will help your skin stay moisturized and heal quickly.
Please keep in mind exposure to the sun is linked to skin cancer. Please keep your health in mind when spending time in the sun. Always use sunblock!
