Have you ever wanted to get rid of sunburn fast? Most of us who wind up with sunburn want to have them gone in 5 minutes! I read about a miracle cure for sunburn.
According to the writer, she could cure sunburn, which is a kind of radiation burn in 5 minutes! Her big secret cure? Men’s shaving foam!
Yes, even those of us who see the dangers of too much sun and are determined to never have another sunburn are curious about what is this about shaving foam?
The writer states that her mother-in-law suggested the sure-fire home remedy that works wonders for sunburns. The doctor who was the originator of the cure 40 years ago knew it was a strange suggestion. He also assured the mother-in-law that it worked.
Following through with the strange suggestion, and seeing a benefit, she continued to share the cure with others. The only restriction was that the shaving foam has to be Menthol foam shaving cream. It has to be menthol. The shaving cream has to be foam.
“This supposedly takes the heat out of it fast and makes it more you more comfortable.”
The instructions say to apply the shaving cream to the burn. Don’t rub the shaving cream in, just pat it on your skin. Then she said it will start cooling the heat down. You will also feel itchy along with cooling. Itching means healing.
Tempory Help For The Discomfort Of Sunburn
According to the writer of the article, after about 30 minutes, the shaving foam should have all dissolved into spots and feel more dried out.
“You will feel as if you’re becoming a little cold,” she writes. “At least on the sunburned part of your body. That is a good sign!”
Then instructions are to rinse off in a lukewarm or cool shower or bath. It’s just to get the residue off. No rubbing or scrubbing your skin. Pat dry. She didn’t mention how painful a shower can be with a sunbutn.
Repeat if you need to, the next day. Usually, after that second treatment, the sunburn disappears. Ok, already we are past 5 minutes. Where is the miracle? Like most statements about quick cures for sunburn, this 5 minute part is not true.
The whole treatment might help your sunburn skin feel better, but it isn’t healed. Your sunburn is still visible and uncomfortable. The method does not cure sunburn in 5 minutes.
Using Home Remedies Are Often Effective
The method may work as well as applying more traditional home remedies like aloe vera. For the shaving foam method, if I found myself with a sunburn, I might try it on a small part, not the whole area. What if you are allergic to some part of the shaving foam formula? That sounds scary.
We know that sunscreen, and sun blocking clothing do protect our bodies. Please remember to protect yourself from too much sun. Sunburn is dangerous and will lead to cancer.
Making the choice between a quick fix and what is good for your skin. Yes, you may want immediate relief from the discomfort of your sunburn. Would I try the shaving foam? As I stated, I would try a small area to see how my skin reacted. If all is well and there is less pain, I can see myself with shaving foam!
The real issue is to take care of your skin as it heals. Leave it intact and allow the cycle of healing to take place. If the layer of skin can regrow with no problems of infection that are caused by pulling the strips of dead skin off, it should be healthier Use an after sunburn skin ointment or cream.
Will Sunburn Be The Spoiler For Your Fun In The Sun Day?
Nothing like a sunburn to act as a buzzkill for a day in the outdoors.
Just like a squall blowing up on a beach day, you are done!
That sunburn can send you indoors as you frantically research how to heal a sunburn fast. Getting sunburn on Saturday of a 2 day weekend at the lake can put a damper on your fun. Besides miserable skin, you can often have fever and chills. Sunburns are dangerous. How to treat.
We know that the shoulda-woulda-coulda of wearing sun blocking clothing and sunscreen with SPF.
But if you already have sunburn, it’s too late. Sure, you wish you had taken the time to protect your skin.
The task at hand is to heal this sunburn quickly as possible. Cool baths, aloe gel, and ibuprofen help soothe the pain, they can actually encourage faster healing. By helping keep your skin calm it will heal faster.
Truth be told, maybe you can’t exactly hasten your body’s recovery like the false 5-minute cure claim of miracle shaving foam. You can use time-tested products and strategies to protect your skin as it heals. This protection can keep your body healthy and not add to the healing process for your skin in the meantime.
What Does The Medical Community Suggest?
One of the skincare experts in Seattle, Oregon, James Collyer, was kind enough to share some suggestions from a position of experience for healing from sunburn.
A word of warning, once you’re on the other side of this healing process, be sure to visit your dermatologist every year for a skin check. Each sunburn increases your odds of developing skin cancer.
Here are Collyer’s suggestions for how we can help our skin heal a sunburn safely.
Aloe Gel or Moisturizing Lotion ASAP
Collyer says, “Applying aloe on sunburns is like putting out a fire. Immediately after a burn, a highly-concentrated, cooling aloe vera product will begin to soothe the pain,”
Collyer offers some preventative advice as well, ” When gels have a high percentage of aloe. This makes them good for your face, too. While they help restore moisture to your skin that is parched or sunburned.”
Using a product that can restore moisture to your skin will allow you to get ahead of some of the discomfort. You will also be promoting a faster recovery. There are many choices in sunburn treatment, but make sure your product of choice says it is OK for sunburn and has no petroleum products in it.
Petroleum products, like Vasoline, will form a seal over the burned area and not allow any remaining heat to escape, driving the burn deeper.
To add to Collyer’s suggestion, our dermatologist suggests giving the skin a chance to heal. Aloe is good, and if there is still pain choose your pain relief products carefully, with the warning from above. Overtreating is easy to do.
Your Face Has Sunburn?
Keeping your skin hydrated is important to allow your skin to heal from sunburn as quickly and comfortably as possible.
So, while you endure the discomfort and the unavoidable peel, be sure to apply moisturizer to the entire sunburn area. As you will be using a lightweight moisturizer, it will mean reapplying through the day.
You may want to switch from your regular moisturizer to heal from sunburn. It will be wise to swap for a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer containing soothing ingredients. A formula with cactus extract, chamomile, or aloe will help the sunburn heal.
The soothing moisturizer will allow all of its ingredients (and not just the soothing ones) to fortify skin and heal quickly. While those soothing ingredients will help the healing allowing minimal pain.
You should consider keeping this product in rotation even after your sunburn is past the painful part. “After your pain subsides and you’re back to your daily regimen (while the burn heals), it’s important to keep using this moisturizer,” says Collyer.
“Especially since any continued sun exposure, even on brief lunch breaks, can continue to keep your skin irritated.”
Consider a moisturizer with sunscreen. This is especially beneficial since you want to avoid any more sunburn while you heal.
Of course, you’ll avoid the sun, but unless you stay in a cave, some exposure is inevitable.)
Do Gentle Bath Soaks
Collyer also suggested, “It’s is sometimes best to avoid a shower in the days following a burn, since the water pressure might be too painful.” A bath if possible, with soothing bath oils or milk bath powders. Remember, at this time you will want to use products with fewer ingredients for less irritation.
Soothing the skin as it recovers, will speed healing. Consider this your regimen if and when any severe burns have gone away, and while the skin repairs itself.
Avoid long baths, suggests Collyer because this can actually end up dehydrating the burn. Allowing the bath to rinse away all your skin’s natural moisturizing oils will slow healing.
With all the suggestions about being gentle with showering and bathing, you should be using gentle soaps. While you are healing, avoid abrasive items like scrubs, washcloths, and loofahs.
Choose Loose Fitting Clothing, and Stay Hydrated While You Heal
Allow your skin to breathe while you are healing. This isn’t the time to be wearing skin-tight clothing. Tight clothing on a sunburned area can cause slow healing and even infection. Loose-fitting clothing for a few days is best.
Make sure to hydrate your system. Keeping your body properly hydrated with water will be easier by avoiding dehydrating things like alcohol and caffeine. It’s necessary to create an environment for your skin moisture recovery and to allow surface ventilation. You can do this, just for a couple of weeks.
According to the National Cancer Institute, about a third of the American adult population experiences at least 1 sunburn each year. The Institute also says that from these sunburns, more than 33,000 of these burns require emergency room visits!
You are already aware that if you have pale skin or spend a lot of time in the sun, you’re at an increased risk of getting burned. In general, a more severe sunburn takes longer to heal than milder cases.
Other factors that determine how quickly you heal include how well you take care of your sunburn, Then whether you have a condition that slows down wound healing, such as diabetes or arterial disease. Skin conditions heal slowly for both these conditions.
There are no magical cures for sunburn, but there are a number of ways you can encourage your body’s natural healing process.
Let’s take a look at the most effective ways to heal sunburn faster.
Help Your Body Heal Your Skin
You will need to allow your body some time to heal from sunburn. The skin that was damaged by the sunburn must be replaced. First-degree sunburn only damages the outer layer of your skin. Your skin will look red, be sensitive and after a few days, new skin will replace the damaged.
Your body needs time to go through the cycle of replacing itself. And it has limits as to how fast this can happen. Help your skin replace itself by:
- moisturizing your skin
- getting plenty of rest
- staying hydrated
Other Suggestions To Help Heal And Be More Comfortable After Sunburn
Other suggestions to support the healing process and relieve your symptoms include:
Get lots of sleep. Sleep restriction can disrupt your body’s production of certain cytokines that help your body manage inflammation. This disruption can slow down your body’s ability to heal itself.
Take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, like NSAIDs. Taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen immediately after you notice sunburn can help decrease inflammation and pain. This soothes your skin, allowing cooling from within to start.
Stay hydrated. A sunburn draws moisture away from your skin. Drinking plenty of fluids and electrolytes can help rehydrate your skin.
Apply aloe vera. Aloe vera contains a substance called aloin that reduces inflammation. Aloe vera can also moisturize your skin and prevent peeling.
Cool bath. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends taking a cool bath or shower to soothe your skin. Afterward, leave a little moisture on your skin when you dry off, and then apply a moisturizer to trap in the water.
Apply hydrocortisone cream. Hydrocortisone creams are used to treat swelling, irritation, and itchiness. Apply hydrocortisone cream to manage swelling and pain. You can get 1 percent hydrocortisone over the counter, or if necessary, your doctor can prescribe a stronger ointment.
Try an oatmeal bath. Taking an oatmeal bath can help soothe your skin and reduce irritation. An oatmeal bath can be made by mixing a few tablespoons of baking soda and about a cup of oats into a cool bath.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to get rid of a sunburn overnight even if your burn is mild. Most instances of first-degree sunburn will probably take at least a week to heal, even when properly treated. More severe sunburn may take weeks or even months to heal.
Remember Sunburns Are Severe Burns
Sunburned areas are usually first-degree burns.
You would have to spend much more time in the sun to get second-degree or third-degree sunburn from the sun. These are much more serious, but the more serious sunburns do happen. These sunburns will make you sicker, and you will for sure take longer to heal.
With a second-degree sunburn, the burn will reach the second layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. Sunburns that result in blistering are definitely considered second-degree burns. All parts of the area may not blister, even so, the skin has burn damage. Treat it accordingly.
Don’t be careless with caring for your skin.
A third-degree sunburn reaches the fat in the deeper layers of your skin and can destroy the nerves. As a result, you may not actually feel pain. A third-degree burn will also put you more at risk for:
- dehydration
- infection that can quickly become dangerous
- sepsis
If you or someone you know experiences second or third-degree sunburn, you should not treat it at home.
Consider these types of sunburn a medical emergency. Find immediate medical treatment.
With children especially, it is very dangerous to delay medical care.
Some Things To Consider About Sunburn
Sunburn is caused by overexposing your skin to UV rays.
The longer you’re exposed to these rays, the more likely your skin will burn. Even if you don’t sunburn, exposing your skin to the sun’s rays will dry your skin. Don’t forget that you are also getting exposure to UVA and early aging.
You know that people with darker skin don’t burn as quickly as people with paler skin. This is because those with darker skin tones produce more of the pigment that is called melanin. Melanin that protects skin from UV damage determines your skin color.
Darker tones of skin will tan, and get darker even if they don’t sunburn.
The more severely you burn, the longer it will take for your body to regrow the layer of skin that is damaged Mild sunburn symptoms usually heal in 3 to 5 days. More severe burns take a couple of weeks to heal up.
The rate at which your body heals may be genetically determined, according to new research published in 2020, but other factors like your age and overall health also play a role.
Different conditions and lifestyle habits can weaken your immune system.
They can also slow down your body’s ability to heal from sunburn. A few of these conditions include:
- diabetes
- smoking
- malnutrition
- obesity
- chronic stress
- arterial disease
- poor circulation
- immunosuppression
What Risks Do You Have
The biggest risk factors to consider when it comes to sunburn are how long you remain in the sun and the intensity of your exposure. The longer you’re in the sun and the stronger the sun is, the more likely you are to experience sunburn and the more severe your burn may be.
Factors That Increase The Likelihood Of Sunburn
Beyond that, there are a number of factors that may increase the likelihood of getting sunburned:
- How exposed is your skin? For example, tanning on the beach in a bathing suit is more likely to lead to sunburn than walking outside in long-sleeved clothing. Which one describes you best?
- Is it a sunny or cloudy day? There is always a risk of sunburn even if it is cloudy, and even in the winter.
- Are you outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m? When the sun’s rays are the strongest.
- Do you take medications or supplements such as diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, retinoids, and St. John’s wort? These can increase your chances of experiencing sunburn.
- Are you in the sun while also in a high-altitude location? Say the mountains where there is less atmospheric protection from UV rays?
- If you are out in the sun and are closer to the equator, you may be more exposed to UV rays.
- Is there an ozone depletion where you are?
- Do you have lighter skin? You are more likely to get sunburn if you do. People with darker skin still run the risk of melanoma from prolonged sun exposure. Protect your skin from the sun.
With a mild sunburn, your skin will likely heal on its own, with no medical treatment required. However, you may need to visit a doctor if your burn is second-degree or more severe.
When To Get Medical Help
If any of these statements describe what is happening with your skin, it’s a good idea to speak with a doctor:
- Have your sunburn blisters or become swollen?
- Did you develop a fever, chills, or feel excessively hot?
- Nausea or vomiting has occurred?
- You are dehydrated
- Dizzy, sick, or excessively tired feelings have developed.
- Have you developed a headache?
- Muscle cramps have begun to develop.
If your baby, toddler, or child has developed a sunburn, this should be taken even more seriously. Their symptoms can turn severe. These burns put younger children at a higher risk of skin cancer later in life as well. If your child has sunburn, and especially if the symptoms are severe, seek medical treatment.
Preventing sunburn
There is no sure-fire way to heal a burn quickly. If you have a first-degree sunburn, you should be well in a few days- to a week.
With the deeper sunburns, you are looking at ten days to several weeks to completely heal.
Suggested ways you can prevent sunburn, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Get in the shade. When you are out in the sun for a prolonged period, it’s a good idea to stay in the shade or make your own by bringing an umbrella with you.
- You should avoid the sunniest part of the day. UV rays are strongest in the late morning and early afternoon, from 10 AM. to 4 P.M.
- Always wear a sun hat. A hat with a wide brim will protect your face, ears, and neck from sun exposure.
- Remember your Sunglasses. Sunglasses protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes from UV rays.
- Wear Sunscreen. The CDC recommends wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 even on cloudy days. Reapply at least every 2 hours and check the expiration date before you use it.
- An important resource for protecting your skin is UPF clothing. Wearing clothing that blocks the rays of the sun while also wearing sunscreen on the parts of your skin that are exposed to the sun will help you protect your skin.
How Long Does Sunburn Last?
If you have a first-degree or mild sunburn, it will usually in a few days to a week, and you will be fairly well healed. This level of sunburn will generally heal on its own. Avoid strong creams and lotions and exfoliating during the healing time.
If your burn is more severe, it requires immediate medical treatment to be sure that your skin can heal properly. Using home remedies can work, but what if they don’t? Then you have not only damaged burned skin to heal, but you also have an infection or other skin healing problem.
How Should I Treat A Sunburn On My Face?
Treat your sunburn on your face as you would sunburn on any other part of the body. Most of us are a bit uneasy when a sunburn on the face results in second or third-degree burns. And we should be careful. Deeper sunburns result in infection and scars easier than you think. Getting a scar on your arm or back is bad enough but on your face?
When you are out in the sun, your head and face get the first bit of sun, for your whole body. Your head is the closest to the sun. Be careful and take care of your face when you are going to be out in the sun. A sun blocking hat is your tool of choice to protect you from the sun.
However, it is a good idea to protect your head, neck, and shoulders more by wearing a hat with a wide brim to avoid being burned in those areas.
It is also important to avoid staring at the sun directly and wear your sunglasses, especially on really hot days, to protect your eyes from a condition called photokeratitis.
How Should I Treat The Peeling Of Sunburn?
The healing is starting and your area that got sunburn is beginning to itch? Especially the part that feels like wallpaper coming loose?
It’s very important not to pick at sunburned skin that is peeling. Allow your skin to replace itself naturally.
Applying moisturizer to soothe and hydrate the dry skin area is the best place to start. Use Aloe Vera to moisturize, cool, and help heal.
Sunburn Blisters, How Do I Treat Them?
If there are blisters on your skin, it means you may have a second-degree burn.
You should see a doctor to make sure you’re treatment that is best for you and your sunburn.
However, in the meantime, you may apply a cold compress to cool down the area. Do not pop any blisters to avoid introducing an infection to the damaged area.
If you have a blister that does pop, clean the area with mild soap and water. It can also be a good idea to cover the area with an Aquaphor layer for protection.
You can use an over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment, but keep in mind some people may be allergic to neomycin, which is a component of antibiotic ointments like Neosporin. If you do try any at-home remedy, use small amounts to start with. Make sure that the remedy doesn’t cause other problems.
Sami’s Take On “Get Rid Of Sunburn Fast”
Sunburn is caused by overexposure to UV rays. There is no miracle cure to heal sunburn fast. You may be able to optimize your body’s healing process by:
- Make sure to get plenty of rest.
- Pay attention to the fluids you drink and stay hydrated.
- Aloe vera or other moisturizers are a good way to help to heal your skin
Should you have a severe sunburn that’s blistering or causing you to feel sick, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor. You may need some additional medical treatment.
As there are so many medical conditions that are pointing to sunburn as the reason these conditions get worse, protecting your skin with sun blocking clothing will give you a head start for good reliable protection for your skin.
Since skin cancer starts showing up more after 40 years of age, it seems that often you are worried about something that won’t happen. It is too easy to forget to be careful with your skin.
Get in the habit of sun blocking clothing with sunscreen on the parts not covered with clothing. Skip the future skin cancer!