Well Summer is here and while that means it’s lovely and warm, it also means that you can end up sunburnt if you are not careful. After my colleague at work complained about her sunburn all week I decided to write a blog on how to treat sunburn. During summer you should take extra care with your skin by moisturising often and wearing sunscreen. If you do end up getting sunburnt then there are some after sun care remedies to soothe sunburnt skin.

What is sunburn? The sun produces two main types of light, UVA and UVB. The UVB is the one that will cause you to turn red and it has two main effects. It causes a reaction in the skin that causes chemicals to be released which results in the redness and it also damages the DNA in the skin.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe has amazing soothing properties when it comes to burns or skin damage. It’s antibacterial, and helps to stimulate our immune system so we can begin healing ourselves. In fact, it’s actually used in many hospitals to treat burn victims. The aloe does feel slightly sticky but that’s because it’s locking in moisture by forming a film over the skin.

Hydrate yourself: Due to your skin burning, your body will be trying to hydrate itself to cool it down. If you feel a headache coming on it will be due to your body not being hydrated enough. A drink with electrolytes in it such as Powerade can help you hydrate quickly and help your body recover faster.

Other tips: If you do get sunburnt, make sure you treat the burn as quickly as possible to stop the damage and allow your skin to heal. Avoid Petroleum Jelly or any moisturiser with oils as this will hold the heat and intensify the burn deeper. It is sometimes also necessary to take some panadol to help take some of the pain away. If you have cucumbers in your fridge grab them and cut them up and let the chilled slices rest of your sunburn. This will help nourish the skin and stop the inflammation.

If you do find yourself burnt this summer follow these tips and you should be on the road to recovery in no time. However these remedies can’t treat more serious sun consequences such as cancer so next time remember to apply sunscreen and avoid being in the sun in the middle of the day.