Almost everyone has experienced a sunburn in their life. Usually, these wounds only cause the skin to become irritated and red in color, apart from sometimes peeling a little. The main element that causes these burns is ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR can come from various sources, such as exposure to the sun, tanning beds, and so on. UVR can also directly damage your DNA, causing skin cells to become inflamed and die. While brief, non-intensive exposure to sunlight can make your skin look beautiful (because it's increased in pigment to protect itself from harmful ultraviolet radiation), all types of UVR stings are harmful to all skin types. In addition, excessive exposure should also be avoided to prevent severe damage, including skin cancer. Blisters from sunburn indicate damage to the skin. You have to deal with it with the right kind of treatment.
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Method 1 of 5: Treating the Burn
Step 1. Stay out of the sun
Don't let your flabby skin get damaged. If you must be in the sun, wear a sunscreen cream with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) level of 30 or more to protect the skin. UV rays can still penetrate clothes to a certain extent.
- Keep using sunscreen cream after the blisters have healed.
- Don't be fooled by cloudy or cold weather. UV rays are still strong in this weather, especially if you live in a snowy area (snow reflects 80% of the sun's rays). In essence, if there is sun, then UV rays are there too.
Step 2. Do not touch the sunburned area. Do not burst the blisters. These bubbles can burst on their own, but take care of them as best you can to prevent infection and damage to the deeper, softer layers of the skin. If the bubble bursts on its own, cover it with gauze to prevent infection. If you think the skin is infected, visit a dermatologist immediately. Some signs that indicate infection include redness, swelling, pain, and burning sensation.
Also, don't exfoliate your skin. The skin may become scaly, but don't peel the scales off. Remember, this area is very sensitive and prone to infection and further damage. Leave it and don't touch it at all
Step 3. Use aloe vera / aloe vera
Aloe vera can be an effective natural remedy for minor burns, such as bubbly burns caused by the sun. Aloe vera gel is the best option because it will cool the burn. Aloe vera is believed to reduce pain, moisten the affected skin, and help the healing process. Research has shown that aloe vera helps burns heal faster (9 days) than if you don't use aloe at all.
- The best products are natural products without any additives. Preservative-free aloe vera gel can be purchased at most drug stores. If you have an aloe vera plant available, extract the juice directly from the plant by breaking the aloe vera leaf in half. Allow this gel to be absorbed by the skin. Repeat the process as often as possible.
- Try using aloe vera ice. This ice cube can relieve pain as well as treat the skin.
- Never apply aloe vera to an open wound.
Step 4. Try another emollient
Emollients like moisturizers are safe to use on bubbles. Emollients can disguise peeling and damage to the skin and help soften it. Avoid thicker moisturizers or petroleum jelly. This kind of moisturizer will block the "breathing" of the skin and can not release heat.
- Some good options include soy-based moisturizers. Look for labels that state the composition consists of organic and natural ingredients. Soy is a plant that has naturally moisturizing properties, helping damaged skin retain moisture and heal itself.
- Again, do not apply anything to open wounds or burst bubbles.
- You can wrap the bubble with gauze tape until it heals (if you prefer).
Step 5. Ask for a prescription for 1% silver sulfadiazine cream
Talk to your doctor to prescribe this medicine. Silver Sulfadiazine 1% is a strong chemical liquid capable of killing bacteria. This fluid is commonly used to treat second and third stage burns. Usually, its use is to be applied twice a day on the burned area. Do not stop using this cream until your doctor tells you to.
Sulfadiazine cream can cause some side effects, although they are rare. These side effects include pain, itching, or a burning sensation on the skin being treated. The skin and mucous membranes (such as the gums) may also become faded or gray in color. Ask your doctor to learn about potential side effects. Stop use immediately and contact your doctor if these side effects occur
Step 6. Avoid anesthetic creams and sprays
These products can cause infection when used on the skin.
- In particular, avoid lotions or creams that contain benzocaine or lidocaine. Although creams like these have been used frequently in the past, they can both cause allergic reactions and irritation.
- Avoid petroleum jelly (also known as Vaseline). Petroleum can clog pores and trap heat in the skin, hindering the skin's healing process.
Step 7. Consume water
Burns due to sunburn will release fluid from the skin and other body parts. Try to drink plenty of water (at least eight glasses – 235 ml per glass – every day). You can also drink fruit juices or sports drinks. Make sure you watch for signs of dehydration, including dry mouth, thirst, urinating less frequently, headaches, and a feeling of floating.
Step 8. Maintain good nutrition to promote healing
Burns like blisters from sunburn can be treated and healed faster with the help of good nutrition, especially through protein-rich foods. Additional protein serves as a building block for healing tissue, and is needed to restore skin and inflammation. In addition, protein also minimizes scars.
- Examples of protein-rich foods are chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products, and eggs.
- The ideal daily intake of protein is 0.5-1.5 grams per 0.45 kg of body weight.
Method 2 of 5: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Use apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can help treat scalded burns by absorbing heat from the skin and easing the burning sensation and pain. The acetic and malic acids in vinegar can neutralize sunburns, as well as restore the pH level of the affected area. In this way, infection of the skin can be prevented so that the skin becomes an unsafe environment for microorganisms.
- To use apple cider vinegar, mix the vinegar with cold water and soak a soft cloth in it. Apply to burned skin or spray directly.
- The use of vinegar is only recommended for skin that is abrasion-free, does not have open wounds, or cracks – because vinegar can burn and irritate the skin.
Step 2. Make a paste of turmeric powder
Turmeric contains antiseptic and antibacterial elements to help relieve pain and inflammation caused by sunburn and blisters. Here are some tips for using turmeric powder:
- Combine turmeric powder with water or milk to make a paste. Then, apply it on the blister for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
- Mix turmeric powder, barley and yogurt to make a thick paste. Use this paste to cover burnt skin. Leave it for about half an hour, then wash off with cold water.
Step 3. Consider using tomatoes
Tomato juice can reduce the sensation of burning, redness, and accelerate the healing of burns.
- To use it, mix cup of tomato paste or juice with cup of buttermilk. Apply this mixture on the burned skin. Leave it for about half an hour and wash off with cold water.
- Alternatively, add two cups of tomato juice to your bath water and soak in it for 10 to 15 minutes.
- For instant pain relief, use mashed raw tomatoes. Mix it with crushed ice and apply to the burn area.
- You can also try eating more tomatoes. A study showed that people who ate five teaspoons of lycopene-rich tomato paste for three months had a 25% better immune system to prevent sunburn.
Step 4. Use potatoes to cool the skin
Raw potatoes can help release the heat from the burned skin, so that all that's left is skin that is cool and less painful and heals faster.
- Place the washed, cleaned and chopped potatoes in a blender to make a paste. Apply directly to the blisters. Allow to dry and rinse gently with cold water.
- This treatment can be repeated daily until the blisters disappear and the skin begins to heal.
Step 5. Try using a milk compress
Milk produces a protein coating that helps relieve the burning sensation of the skin, so the skin cools down and feels comfortable and relieved.
- Soak a soft cloth in a mixture of cold water with skim milk, then apply it on the burned skin. Leave a few minutes.
- Make sure the milk is cool and not cold. Take it out for about 10 minutes before you use it.
Method 3 of 5: Relieves the Pain
Step 1. Understand that most of the treatments in this article are symptomatic
Treatment is useful for preventing further damage and relieving pain, but cannot be very helpful in speeding up the healing process.
Step 2. Use a cold compress to soothe the skin
The use of water or a cold compress can reduce inflammation, because the cold substances will narrow the blood vessels and reduce their flow to the burned area.
- The cold temperature also helps numb the nerve endings, so your pain and burning goes away quickly.
- You can also use soaks and compresses with a Burrow mixture (aluminum acetate with water). Burrow mixes can usually be purchased at drugstores.
Step 3. Take a bath with a bath
Use cold water and relax for 10 to 20 minutes to help relieve sunburn pain. Repeat as often as possible for several days.
- If you are using a face towel, soak it in cold water and apply it to the burned skin.
- Warm water and soap or bath oils are not recommended, as these can irritate the skin and increase feelings of discomfort.
Step 4. Take a bath under a warm shower
Make sure the temperature is just below the warm temperature. Watch the water flow. The water should flow very gently so as not to aggravate the pain.
- As a general rule, if you can avoid bathing in the shower, do so. The pressure of the water from the shower can prematurely burst the blisters, leaving you with pain, infection, and scarring.
- After bathing, gently pat the skin dry. Do not rub or wipe the skin with a towel as this can cause irritation.
Step 5. Take painkillers
If the pain from this burn bothers you. Take oral anti-inflammatory analgesic medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.
- Ibuprofen (Advil) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. These drugs also reduce fever-inducing hormones.
- Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid) is a drug that acts as an analgesic. This drug relieves pain by limiting its signals in the brain. This drug is also antipyretic, which reduces fever.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safer than aspirin for children with burns. Acetaminophen has many of the same effects.
- Discuss all of these options with your doctor if you are unsure how to use them and whether they are suitable for you.
Step 6. Use a cortisone cream to reduce inflammation
These creams contain small amounts of steroids, which help reduce inflammation from burns by limiting the activity of the immune system.
It is not recommended that you use cortisone cream on children, so talk to your doctor to learn about alternatives
Method 4 of 5: Understanding the Dangers and Symptoms of Burns
Step 1. Understand how UV rays work
UV rays can be divided into three subtypes: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB are two types of UV rays that can damage the skin. UVA contains 95% of all components of UV rays, and is responsible for burns and blisters. However, UVB rays cause more erythema. Erythema is redness that appears as a result of swelling of the blood vessels. Examples of erythema include redness due to burns from sunburn, infection, inflammation, or even pseudo-redness of the face.
Step 2. Understand how bubbles develop
These bubbles don't appear immediately after sun exposure, but take a few days to develop. Bubble blisters form when blood vessels are damaged and plasma and other fluids melt between layers of skin and create pockets of fluid. Don't assume that a blister isn't related to a burn just because it's too late. Harmful UV rays affect light skin more than dark skin, so you may be more at risk/risk-free than others, depending on your skin type.
- Stage one burns cause erythema, and the blood vessels will dilate, causing the skin to bulge and turn red. For burns like this, only the outermost part of the skin is affected. However, damaged cells can still release chemical mediators that can irritate the skin and destroy other damaged cells.
- In the case of a second-degree burn, the inner layers of the skin are also affected, as well as the blood vessels. So, bubble blisters are a sign – this is why bubble blisters are considered much more serious than a typical sunburn.
Step 3. Visit the ER immediately if you experience certain symptoms
The body may suffer from prolonged exposure to the sun, leading to dehydration or fatigue. Watch for the following symptoms and seek medical attention immediately:
- Feeling dizzy or fainting
- Fast pulse and breathing
- Nausea, chills, or fever
- Excessive thirst
- Sensitive to light
- Blisters covering 20% or more of the body
Step 4. Remember whether you had any medical conditions before the burn occurred
Consult your doctor to find out if you have chronic actinic dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, herpes simplex, or eczema. Sun damage can make these conditions worse. Your burns can also cause keratitis, which is inflammation of the cornea of the eye.
Step 5. Watch for early symptoms
If you show early symptoms of a burn, try your best to avoid the sun to prevent blistering. These symptoms include:
- Reddish skin that is soft and warm to the touch. Ultraviolet rays from the sun will kill the cells of the epidermis (outer skin layer) that are alive. When the body detects dead cells, its immune system begins to respond by increasing blood flow to the affected area and opening up its capillary walls. In this way, white blood cells can enter and destroy cells that have been damaged. The increased blood flow makes your skin warm and rosy.
- A stinging and stabbing pain in the burned area. Damaged cells in this region activate pain receptors by releasing chemicals and sending signals to the brain that make you feel pain.
Step 6. Look for the blisters that are causing the itching
These blisters can appear hours or days after you've been exposed to the sun. The epidermis contains special nerve fibers that relieve the itching sensation. When the epidermis is damaged due to prolonged exposure to the sun, these nerve fibers are then activated and you feel itchy.
In addition, the body will also send fluids to fill the gaps and tears in the damaged skin to protect it. This causes the appearance of blisters
Step 7. Check if you have a fever
When the immune system detects dead cells and other foreign substances, pyrogens (substances that cause fever) are then released and travel to the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates body temperature). These pyrogens then bind to receptors on the hypothalamus and your body temperature begins to rise.
You can take your temperature using a regular thermometer, which can be purchased at a pharmacy or drug store
Step 8. Look for flaky skin
Burned cells that have died will be exfoliated so the body can replace them with new skin cells.
Method 5 of 5: Prevent Sunburns
Step 1. Stay out of the sun
Prevention is always better than cure, so stay out of the sun to keep your skin healthy.
Do not expose yourself to the sun for a long time. Try sheltering in shaded areas, such as under balconies, umbrellas, or trees
Step 2. Apply sunscreen cream
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or higher. Levels in this level allow blocking of various spectrums of UVA and UVB rays. Both types of UV radiation can cause cancer. Many doctors will also recommend a guide like this to their patients. If you want to put it on the baby, know that the baby's skin is very soft. He should be smeared sunscreen cream all over the body (only after he reaches more than six months). You can buy sunscreen creams for children and babies.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you leave the house, not right before. Make sure you apply this cream regularly. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to apply 30 ml of cream all over the body every three hours, or after any activity that involves wetting the skin (eg after swimming from a pool).
- Don't be fooled by the cold weather. UV rays can still penetrate clouds, and snow reflects 80% of them.
- Be careful if you live near the equator or highlands. UV rays in these places are much stronger because the ozone level is reduced.
Step 3. Be careful in the water
Not only will water affect the effectiveness of a topical sunscreen cream, but wet skin is more susceptible to UV damage than dry skin. Use a waterproof sunscreen when you go to the beach or pool, or do vigorous outdoor exercise.
If you're swimming or sweating a lot, apply sunscreen more often than usual
Step 4. Wear protective clothing
Wear a hat, swimming goggles, sunglasses, and anything that can protect your skin from the sun. You can even buy UV-blocking clothing.
Step 5. Avoid the sun at certain times of the day
Try to stay away from the sun from 10 to 16, when the sun is at its highest in the sky. At these times, the sun is shining directly, and its UV elements are especially harmful.
If you can't avoid the sun, take cover in the shadows whenever possible
Step 6. Drink water
Water is important for replacing body fluids and fighting dehydration. Dehydration is a serious common consequence of prolonged exposure to the sun.
- Make sure to stay hydrated and drink water regularly when you are outside, in very hot and sunburned environments.
- Don't drink only when you're thirsty, but give your body the nutrients and resources it needs to stay healthy before you get into trouble.
