Top 5 Things to Avoid After a Sunburn to Ensure Quick Healing

Sunburns can turn a fun day in the sun into a painful ordeal. Your skin feels hot, red, and tender, and you might be desperate to find relief. The real challenge is figuring out how to heal your sunburn quickly while avoiding common mistakes that could make things worse.

It’s frustrating when you’re trying to soothe your skin but end up making it worse by using the wrong products or exposing it to more damage. You want relief, and you want it fast.

To get your skin back to its healthy self, you need to know what to avoid after a sunburn. Here are some things to avoid after a sunburn:

1. Avoid Hot Showers

After a sunburn, your skin is already sensitive and inflamed. Taking hot showers can make the situation worse by increasing inflammation and further irritating the skin. 

Instead, opt for cool or lukewarm showers, which help soothe the skin without aggravating the burn. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology Association suggest that cool water can help reduce redness and discomfort, making your recovery process smoother.

2. Skip the Sauna

Using a sauna after a sunburn is a bad idea. The high heat and humidity in a sauna can exacerbate your sunburn by further drying out and irritating your skin.

While saunas are great for relaxing and sweating out toxins, they can hinder your recovery from a sunburn. Stick to cooler environments and focus on soothing your skin with hydration and gentle care.

3. Skip the Heavy, Scented Lotions

While it’s tempting to slather on lotions for relief, heavy, scented, or alcohol-based products can actually irritate your sunburned skin. According to the experts at California Skin Institute, lotions with fragrances may increase your skin’s sensitivity and lead to dryness and irritation. 

Choose gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers or aloe vera gels that are designed to hydrate and soothe without irritating your skin. Aloe vera is known for its cooling properties and is highly recommended for treating sunburns.

4. Keep Drinking Water

According to Dr. Vanchinathan, sunburn makes you dehydrated. Water is crucial for helping your skin repair itself and for reducing the symptoms of dehydration, like dizziness and headaches. 

Aim to drink water throughout the day and avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can contribute to dehydration.

5. Avoid Tight Clothing

Wearing tight or rough clothing can irritate sunburned skin and make the healing process uncomfortable. 

Opt for loose, soft fabrics that allow your skin to breathe and avoid additional friction. Cotton is a good choice as it is gentle on the skin and helps absorb sweat without causing more irritation.

Conclusion

Proper care after a sunburn is key to fast and effective healing. By avoiding hot showers, harsh lotions, peeling, dehydration, saunas, tight clothing, and additional sun exposure, you can help your skin recover more quickly and comfortably.

Taking these precautions will not only soothe your sunburn but also protect your skin from further damage.