Sunburn Prevention and Coping Tips

You thought you did everything right during your day at the beach – you wore sunscreen and reapplied after two hours. Unfortunately, your shoulders are red and tender the next morning.

Where did you go wrong? Forty-five minutes after slathering up, you swam for 15 minutes, and didn't reapply sunscreen until an hour later. While you strolled the sand after swimming, your skin was unprotected from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Your shoulders felt fine last night, but sunburn can take a day or more to cause symptoms — hence your current discomfort.

Unfortunately, the worst may be yet to come. Sunburn pain peaks six to 48 hours after occurring, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Soften the blow with these soothing tips:

• Don't dry out. Moisturize frequently. Lotions containing vitamins C and E may benefit sunburned skin, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. To keep cool at the same time, apply aloe gel that has been refrigerated for a short time to sunburnt skin.
• Drink up. Sunburn can cause dehydration, so increase your fluid intake for a few days and be on the lookout for symptoms, such as fatigue, reduced saliva and lower urine output.
• Keep cool. To lower your body temperature, soak a cloth in cool milk for 10 minutes, then apply to sunburn, or take a bath in lukewarm water mixed with a half cup of baking soda.
• Sit on your hands. If your skin begins peeling, let the process run its course instead of removing the flakes yourself.
• Pummel the pain. Experts recommend taking ibuprofen, which relieves discomfort and reduces swelling.

Do your best to prevent sunburn in the future, but if it happens again, you'll know what to do.

Sunburn doesn't give many free passes — just one severe incident can double your risk for developing melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. Sunburn can occur in 15 minutes or less, depending on skin tone and time of day.

The best method of prevention is the simplest — don't expose your skin to sunlight, particularly from mid-morning to late afternoon. When you go out, stick to the shade and wear dark-colored clothing that doesn't permit light to pass through. A wide-brim hat and wraparound sunglasses that protect against both types of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are essential, as well.

Finally, don't forget the sunscreen. The higher the sun protection factor, the less UV light makes it through to your skin. Apply sunscreen liberally at least 30 minutes before venturing out and every two hours thereafter. Sunscreen isn't water- or sweatproof, so reapply after swimming or exercising.

Sometimes, sunburn needs more than home care. See a doctor if you have sunburn accompanied by fever and signs of illness, such as nausea, clammy skin and severe thirst.

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