Sunburn Relief 101

Here at our office, we encourage all of our patients to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 in it every day. However, even on a cool day here in San Francisco, it's easy to get a sunburn because we are so close to the water. Whether you have a slight sunburn or a severe burn, we have a few ways for you to treat it and help your skin heal faster in the process.

Mild Sunburn

Apply Aloe Vera or Lotion: For a slight sunburn, you should be fine applying some aloe vera gel or lotion to it. Aloe vera has an acid in it that can calm down a burn and help the skin heal faster.

Moderate Sunburn

  • Take NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen are great at helping you get rid of pain and swelling after a sunburn. Just make sure to clear the use of NSAIDs with your primary care physician beforehand because they are blood thinners and may not work well with other prescription.

  • Apply Lotion or Aloe Vera: Similar to a mild sunburn, try applying either a regular lotion or some aloe vera gel to your skin to help soothe it and make it feel calmer

Extreme Sunburn

Extreme sunburn can be beyond painful and may lead to scarring if you’re not careful. So what can you do to avoid any of that?

  • Stay out of the sun: The best thing that you can do is stay out of the sun until your skin has fully healed.

  • Try Hydrocortisone: Severe burns can leave your skin painful and feeling raw. Try applying some hydrocortisone cream to help soothe the skin and keep it calm.

  • Leave Blisters Alone: If you do have blisters on your skin, don’t touch them. If you pop blisters or pick at them, they are more likely to scar later on.

If you want to learn more about how you can take better care of your skin, contact our San Francisco office and call 415.409.6500.

Skin Care, Skin Care TreatmentsSkin Medical SpaComment