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HELP! I’m Burnt To A Crisp: 10 Things To Do After A Bad Sunburn

I wasn’t good about using my Armada Sunscreen and…I’m a lobster (or crawfish in this case!) I am horribly sunburned — bright red, in lots of pain and want to avoid peeling! What do I do??

SUMMARY:

Take an aspirin or another anti-inflammatory (if you’re not allergic; if you’re not sure, check with your doctor). Apply a cold compress. Stay in a dark room, or at least in the shade, indoors. Load up on water. Moisture, moisture, moisture.

YOUR COMPLETE 10 STEPS:

1. Immediately, take two aspirins (or if you’re allergic, ibuprofen or an anti- inflammatory that your doctor recommends) and repeat after four hours.
2. Oral steroids may be needed, too; check with your doctor.
3. If you tend to develop hyperpigmentations, ask your doctor about taking an antihistamine, too, as it can help prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (skin darkening — dark splotches — after a skin trauma).
4. Stay in a darkened room away from windows and with the lights turned down (even indoor lights can cause a photoreaction).
5. Drink lots of water.
6. Repetitively apply a soothing, reparative pure oil (sans all additives) like Know-It-Oil organic virgin coconut oil. This oil is particularly soothing as a cold compress: mix it in with some cold water. Take a soft, clean towel and dip it into the mixture. Wring out excess water and gentle apply onto affected areas of skin. Using The Big, Brave Boo-Boo Balm can be very soothing, too, and can help lessen peeling. Peeling in general can be lessened by lots of moisture, moisture, moisture.
7. If the burn is very red and painful, apply Red Better Flare-Up Balm after the cold-compresses to quickly bring down the inflammation, and reduce redness and pain.
8. If there is swelling, keep the oil and Boo-Boo Balm in the refrigerator and use as cooling butters directly on the skin.
9. For severe cases, an ice bath may also be indicated (check with your doctor first as ice baths can be dangerous for some people).
10. If the skin is blistering, see your dermatologist immediately or go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care facility.

The Best Way To “Treat” Sunburn Is To Prevent It.

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It’s very important to always apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 (like Armada 30) before going out in the sun. Be sure to reapply after 1 to 2 hours, especially when sweating profusely, after swimming or playing contact sports. Also a good option: Armada Sport is sweat and water resistant! Still, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that no matter what your sunscreen says, you must reapply at least every two hou…and we agree! The skin is a living, breathing part of your body that reacts to lots of things around and on you. It’s best to reapply to make sure you’re getting the best protection.
And apply enough: a good rule of thumb is 1 oz of sunscreen for the average size body – the face alone needs 1 teaspoon of SPF!
Remember, as the Skin Cancer Foundation reminds us, just one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence can almost double your chances of developing melanoma later in life.
Don’t tan, don’t burn, stay safe!
 

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