Anyone have suggestions on how to treat a horrible sunburn???

[dubeskin]

So I went to a water park today and decided not to apply sunscreen - I usually tan, and I figured "Hey, the way it's designed I'll be under awnings most of the time." That was a bad decision, because today my body decided to sunburn like a mother****er. So when I got home about an hour ago, I took a quick, freezing cold shower, then I just applied about an inch of aloe over my shoulders and back, because that's where it's burned. I've been walking around topless now since I got home because it hurts to damn bad that I can't wear a shirt (sorry, I'm a guy).

Anyone have any more suggestions? The aloe kind of helped, but I can still feel this tremendous burn. And now that the aloe is starting to dry, my shoulders and back are getting kind of sticky.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

1. Take a lukewarm bath with some vinegar in the water

Or oatmeal - you could find some oatmeal soaking stuff if you don't have any.

I feel your pain - the same happened to me in 1986, and I missed an entire week of work. I had to have two steroid shots during that week. I hope you feel better soon!

[dubeskin]

2. Thanks! I'll try that if the aloe doesn't do anything in the next 5 minutes

I really hope this doesn't lead to any shots, considering I have to go get my Senior Year book picture tomorrow! Thankfully it's only on the underside of my chin, and elsewhere on my body, but at least I won't look like an Oompa Loompa.

[yellowdogintexas]

5. the healing of a sunburn takes longer than 5 minutes. You have at least

a first degree burn and it takes a while for the skin to heal

[Mutley]

3. Yeah, the vinegar is a good suggestion.

Also, apply lotion as often as possible to avoid ridiculous peeling in a few days.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. just keep applying the aloe gel over and over, as it moisturizes the skin

and reduces the heat
are you using aloe from a plant or aloe gel?

Vinegar is good

Cold wet teabags are excellent

Take aspirin or ibuprofen for anti inflammatory help

do not put hot or warm water on the burn, it will make it blister

soak in a cool tub

[dubeskin]

10. It's in a bottle and says "All natural"

And it's helping a little. But that vinegar bath, although it smelled pretty bad, actually helped quite a bit, and after applying a little more aloe, it's really starting to hurt less.

[conscious evolution]

6. soy sauce compress

Keep using the Aloe too.From a live aloe plant if possible.If from a store use one with no additives and such.

[NewEnglandGirl]

7. Take Some Aspirin

According to most doctors it's an anti inflammatory and really helps sunburn. Use cool compresses. Put a washcloth in the freezer or fridge between applications. I've done that a few times. Ouch, I feel your pain.

[dubeskin]

11. Yeah, after I got out of the bath, I pulled out a chilled washcloth

There's a reason we keep them in there...now I remember why :)

And I will certainly take some Aspirin or Ibuprofen.

[DeepBlueC]

8. Noxzema always feels good

That's what we always used to use when I was a kid on the many many awful burns we subjected ourselves to for the pleasure of a day on a white sandy beach and in the rolling surf of Misquamicut beach in R.I. I think time is the only thing that heals a sunburn but Noxzema feels soothing right away.

[hvn_nbr_2]

22. I second Noxzema

It always seemed to relieve sunburn better than anything else for me.

[Lex]

9. 100% aloe vera gel topically and take 2 ibuprofen.

Take a couple more ibuprofen in a 4 to 6 hours and reapply the gel.

The ibuprofen (like Advil) helps a lot with the discomfort/pain in general.

[Lex]

12. Also, Solarcaine spray has Lidocaine--a local anesthetic

It will numb the surface of your skin for a while.

Use sparingly.

[dubeskin]

13. I think I'll stay away from anything that will numb

As much as it hurts, I don't want to lose feeling in my back for a sort while. But I may look into that for other pains. Is it an injection or a cream or something?

[Lex]

14. It's for sunburns mainly.

You can get it at any drugstore. Usually gel or spray.

[dubeskin]

15. Ahh, I see. Well, thanks anyway!

As much as I want the pain to go away, I'll stay away from anesthetics.

[Lex]

16. Ambesol and Oragel have local anesthetic too.

You know, for gum or tooth pain.

Not all that uncommon.

But whatever works for you! :)

[dubeskin]

18. Ya, I try to stay away from those too.

Granted, I try to stay away from having any mouth aches, and I loathe when the dentist decides its time to numb something. Getting my wisdom teeth removed was horrible. They numbed my entire mouth. Maybe I'm just whining here, but I like to have full feeling in my entire body.

[yellowdogintexas]

17. you may find it helpful when you have to put that shirt on for your photos

it doesn't numb you THAT much, but it sure does reduce the pain. I had forgotten about Solarcaine.

[Lex]

19. Yeah, it doesn't totally numb you. Just takes the edge off the pain

immediately.

Nothing scary about it. It sure has helped me in the past when I was in real agony.

[dubeskin]

20. I might look into it at least next time

I don't want to go driving around right now with no shirt on up to Walgreen's, but I may pick some up the next time I'm there "just in case." It never hurts to have back-ups.

But right now that vinegar bath and the aloe is really starting to help, especially with a cool washcloth over my neck.

[alfredo]

21. Baking soda bath, or the above mentioned vinegar bath. Don't mix

them unless you like the carbon dioxide.

[Aristus]

23. Drink plenty of water until the burns heal. You want to avoid severe dehydration.

The morning after the worst sunburn of my life, I was so dehydrated, I was delirious. My wife had to call me in sick at work. I was rambling and incoherent. No, I mean, more than usual.

[begin_within]

24. Aloe Vera gel - either fresh from the plant, or buy "Fruit of the Earth" brand at a drug store

The "Fruit of the Earth" brand Aloe Vera gel is about the closest you can get to the pure gel from the plant. Not only does the aloe vera gel provide an immediate cooling and soothing sensation, but it contains fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as some hormones which stimulate the healing process of the skin. I have noticed that if I get sunburn, and I put the Aloe Vera gel on it the same day, the sunburn heals faster than if I put nothing on it.

[dubeskin]

25. That's actually the one I have

I'm glad that's the one we bought then ;)

[begin_within]

26. It's good stuff, it's not watered down or combined with useless ingredients. I use it frequently.

It make take a few days for a severe sunburn to heal, even with all the treatments that people have suggested in this thread. The inflammation is part of the healing process of the skin trying to heal itself, and the pain is a result of that inflammation. Sorry that it's painful. I don't think the Aloe will reduce the severity pain very much, but it should reduce the length of time that it is painful.

[Zavulon]

27. Take a look at this, tons of links here.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sunburn+remedies&btnG=Search

[Texasgal]

28. Take some talcum powder

and sprinkle it on your bed sheets.. It'll help the sting while trying to lay down.

[FloridaJudy]

29. Oat meal baths

Are very soothing. You can spend a fortune on Aveeno, or you can just put some uncooked oatmeal in an old sock and tie or rubber band it shut: then put the sock in a tub of lukewarm water. Don't add the oatmeal directly to the water - it'll make a heckuva mess, and probably clog your your drain.

This also works for poison ivy, chicken pox and other itchy/painful skin conditions.