If there’s one area over here at The Lipstick Narratives in which I’m annoyingly redundant, it’s sunscreen. But I get it, even the most devout SPF wearers aren’t totally immune to the sun, sunburns, and the damage caused by the sun’s UV rays. Because sunscreen isn’t the only means of prevention, the most religiously devoted can still get burned. So what do you do then? Today we’re talking about how to treat (and hopefully prevent) a sunburn.
What is a Sunburn?
Simply put, a sunburn is the result of your skin getting too much sun and exposure to its damaging ultraviolet rays (UV.) If you remember from this post about sunscreen myths, there are two types of UV rays we risk exposure to from the sun. UVA rays are the long wavelength rays that penetrate deep into the skin and most responsible for damage deep within the skin. This crops up in the form of premature aging and sometimes skin cancer. UVB rays, on the other hand, are shorter wavelength rays that tend to only penetrate the top most layer of skin and cause burning.
Sunburns usually appear within the first few hours of UV exposure and can showcase itself with red, inflamed, hot to the touch skin. If the burn is severe enough, skin can also blister. We’ve all had one, and we all know it doesn’t feel the best. But because sunburns are so commonplace, most folks think getting a bit scorched isn’t all that bad. However, there is some research that shows even one bad burn significantly increases your risk for developing skin cancer. Board certified dermatologist Shari Marchbien stresses that having 5 blistering sunburns can increase the risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 80%!
Theoretically, we’d all be covered head to toe in sunscreen to prevent a burn 100%. However, most of us aren’t protected enough and sun happens. So what do you do when your skin does burn?
What’s the Deal With Aloe Vera?
Who has reached for a bottle of aloe vera gel as soon as they’ve noticed a sunburn? Same. And humans have been doing it for thousands of years. However, modern studies show that it may not be as effective for treating burns as we thought. There is actually scarce research on the effects of aloe in healing burns, and even more scarce are high quality results.
Aloe Vera & Healing
Sunburns are all that different from burns you may get from a fire or a curling iron. And one study did show that out of 127 burn victims, those that used aloe healed about 9 days faster on average. This could be because aloe contains large amounts of glucomannan, which stimulates the formation of collagen and new red blood cells. This also helps speed up how quickly skin heals.
Aloe Vera & Pain
And if aloe isn’t necessarily proven to heal the skin after a burn, surely you’ve felt the pain relieving effects after using aloe on a burn. After a burn, your skin can become red, inflamed, and painful. And a little aloe gel might soothe that. Some consider aloe vera to be an analgesic, which is something that is used to relive pain; however, that isn’t a proven effect either.
When it comes to your over the counter aloe gel, it may not even be the aloe that is aiding your skin. Researchers have found that it can help speed up the absorption of vitamins and drugs through the skin. So if your aloe contains something like vitamin E or another anti-inflammatory drug, that could be penetrating your skin faster.
So … Should I Use Aloe on My Sunburns?
The answer is, I don’t think it’s going to hurt. Most studies insinuate the effects of aloe on burns may be a placebo. Because patients believe the aloe is helping with their pain, their pain may go away. And in my opinion, if a placebo works, it works.
However, if you’re going to reach for aloe for your burn, I might reach for an aloe gel from the store as opposed to an aloe plant. Store bought gels typically have any irritants the plant contains removed, so it will be gentler on your skin.
And if aloe alone isn’t going to heal a burn, how do you treat and heal a sunburn?
How to Heal and Treat a Sunburn
1 | Hydrate
When you get a sunburn, UV light causes inflammation and drying in the skin. So it’s important to hydrate the skin and repair the skin barrier ASAP. We talked about aloe aiding in the treatment of burns, but it’s important to recognize that aloe doesn’t equate moisture. Use a lightweight moisturizer, like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream*, on the burned skin. If you use something heavy, you’ll smother the burn, and it could potentially cause more pain. Using something lightweight ensure the skin is getting the hydration it needs but isn’t heavy on the affected area. And if you are a slave to aloe, use a lightweight moisturizer that contains aloe, like that from Vaseline*.
Burns also draw fluids to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body. So it’s important to not only treat the skin from the outside-in but the inside-out as well. To compensate and replenish the body, make sure you’re drinking a lot of water.
2 | Protect and Treat
Topical gels and creams aren’t the only way to tackle a burn and the inflammation that comes with it. You can also treat a sunburn by reducing inflammation and pain with and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like Advil. It will help reduce swelling, redness, and any pain you may be dealing with.
If your burn blisters, it is considered a second-degree burn. And it’s important to keep those blisters from popping. Preventing blisters from rupturing will help the burn heal more quickly and lower the risk of infection. Likewise, refrain from picking at any pealing skin. This can expose and irritate the fresh skin beneath.
3 | Fight Free-Radical Damage
In most cases, your burn will heal in a few days. The redness will go away, and the swelling will go down. But the free-radical damage caused by UV damage will last forever. UV light kickstarts production of free radicals which harm collagen and elastin as well as damage the DNA of your skin cells. This is the damage we talk about that causes early aging and increases the risk of skin cancer.
You can’t undo your exposure, but you can help minimize the harmful effects. Applying products rich in antioxidants, like a vitamin C serum, can help.
4 | Prevent further damage
Prevention is the best treatment. While your burned skin is healing, it’s really important to protect it from any further sun exposure. Be sure to stay in the shade and out of the direct sun, wear SPF-protective clothing, and wear sunscreen.
Like you would from a burn by a hot styling tool or the oven, it’s important to take appropriate steps to heal and treat a sunburn as well. Make sure you keep your skin and body hydrated, decrease swelling and inflammation, protect any blisters, fight free-radical damage, and prevent any further damage.
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