Sun Burns-Sun Burn Relief and Remedies
Read the Coppertone ad…”Beautiful tan today. Younger looking skin tomorrow.” WHAT A LOAD OF PROVERBIAL CRAP! As they seduce you with sexy blondes! Have they heard these words…SKIN CANCER?
My Mother always said “you shouldn’t take advice from strangers!” Hopefully some of you know me from reading my blog to know that I speak from the heart and the cranial area.
Living in Florida and Texas all of my life, I have had my share of sun burns from mild to severe cases. Now, with Lupus I am not able to be exposed at all…to the sun directly or indirectly.
Do NOT take the risk of getting sun burned when pregnant!
And remember Baby Boomers, that you can get a sun stoke.
Hyperthermia in its advanced state referred to as heat stroke or sunstroke, is an acute condition which occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. It is usually due to excessive exposure to heat. The heat regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become over whelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, and body temperature climbs uncontrollably. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
As an added note hyperthermia can be created artificially by drugs or medical devices. In these instances it may be used to treat cancer and other conditions. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare complication of some types of general anesthesia.
Remember what happened to Icarus!
Here is some important information about sun burns and sun screens…
Sunburn Remedies for Beach Bums
Sun Burns & Sun Screens
Exposure to the sun means exposure to Ultraviolet, AKA/UV, radiation which comes in different wavelengths medium and long. Some causing more damage to our skin than others.
Medium wavelengths [280~320nm] are in the UVB range and are primarily responsible for sunburns. Long wavelengths [320~400nm] are in the UVA range and can make you burn easier if you are on certain medications, which is called photosensitivity reactions. Which is what I have.
UVA rays can also cause tanning. In addition to the above, UV radiation in general can lead to premature aging, eye damage and skin cancer. Those are not good benefits…some you can die from.
Do not worship the Sun…remember what happened to
Some of you are probably thinking “how come some people get sunburn and others don’t?”
Well, here are some reasons why people react differently to the sun and sun rays.
- A lot depends on the person’s pigmentation or skin type. Which varies from pale, dark, or any where in between.
- A persons exposure to the sun.
- The time of day.
- The season
- The altitude
- The latitude
- Conditions such as snow, water, sand, how long they’re exposed, and what they did to protect themselves.
How does one protect yourself?
First, avoid intense sun exposure if possible and watch out for sand, water and snow which reflect UV light back to you. Wear long sleeves and a wide brimmed hat and put on sunglasses and sunscreen.
Which sun glasses and sun screen should you buy?
Sunglasses:
You don’t need the real expensive kind. Just make sure the ones you get are polarized, to cut the glare. They should protect against UVA and UVB radiation.
What sun screens:
Sunscreens are chemical or physical barriers to UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens are the lotions you apply to your skin that absorb the uv radiation. Some contain PABA AKA/para~aminobenzoic acid, that absorb the UVB rays.
Some have benzophenone that absorb both the UVB and UVA rays. The effectiveness of these chemical sunscreens depends on what’s actually in it and its ability to withstand swimming and sweating. Just read the labels.
Sunscreens also have SPF AKA/sun protection factor, ratings. They indicate how much sunburn protection they have relative to unprotected skin. The higher the number, the more protection, up to a certain point. Now that opinion varies among experts and I am not on of those…an expert.
- Sunscreen should be applied liberally, at least 2mm thick, for it to work. It’s better to put it on 30~60 minutes before going out in the sun, so it can penetrate and bind to the skin.
- Waterproof Formulas, after being in the water usually protect up to 80 minutes.
- Water Resistant Formulas, after being in the water, usually protect up to 40 minutes.
- Sweat Resistant Formulas, usually protect up to 30 minutes with continuous heavy sweating. {YUCK}
- Children’s Sunscreens are usually self explanatory, but remember NOT to use sunscreen on infants less than 6 months old, bless their little diaper wearing butts.
- The other kind of sunscreen is the physical sunscreen, the white stuff that you see on peoples noses or lips. These contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and block both of the UVA and UVB rays.
As some of you are aware, there are certain medications that can make your skin sensitive to the sun. EVEN with sunscreen. Consult your doctor if you are on any medication to see if it causes sun sensitivity.
And as A Lupus survivor, I can tell you first hand that there are diseases and medicines that make your skin sensitive to the sun as well!
OK…now what if you do get sunburn?
Baby Boomers, here is a quickie that always worked for me. When I got severely burned, I would go home and FIRST spray regular vinegar on the effected areas. Do not take a shower, let it soak in.
The smell really isn’t that bad. You just smell like a the beach, your sun screen and a big salad.
I would not blister when I used this procedure. Therefore I did not peel. And, it look the heat out of the effected area as well. It is a home remedy and something that most everyone has in their cabinets. It worked for me!
A Mild Sunburn, where the skin is pinkish~red, hurts and is warm to the touch. It is usually self limiting, lasting one~to~three days.
Your doctor may recommend certain treatments, such as cool compresses {I use a bag of frozen peas}, over the counter topical steroids, or lotions to relieve symptoms if necessary.
A severe sunburn, where the skin is a deep red, can also have swelling and or blistering of the skin. It is extremely painful and can be associated with nausea, fever, and chills.
Do not play around with this, Baby Boomers…see your physician immediately, as severe cases may need hospitalization.
Other rashes, such as a Lupus rash, may mimic sunburns, so consult your doctor if there are any questions or doubts.
DISCLAIMER: The Baby Boomer Queen is not a substitute for your doctor. BUT, I will focus on “preventive” medicine so that you stay healthy and safe, and I will include some helpful tips. Some from research and some from personal experience.
As most of my regular readers know, I prefer to take the holistic approach to most all health related issues.
If you would like to thumb your nose at the blood sucking, life snatching, “let’s just keep you alive and not healed” pharmaceutical companies…here is an alternative that will help you with your sunburns as well as other Sunburn First Aid and Pain Relief Ideas Using Natural Home Remedies. It also makes Caring For Blisters From Sunburn Much Easier.
More more of my articles on the sun and it’s properties, go to this page.
Have a safe summer, Baby Boomers, but beware of the sun! We know more now then we did when we were sun worshipers.
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
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