We know that sunscreen and healthy sun sense are important to prevent sunburn when we enjoy the warm rays of the sun. But when the birds are singing and the sky is blue, it still happens that we forget all about time and place, and the skin can get burned.
In this article, we give you our best advice on how to care for your skin from the inside and out – if the damage is done.
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Get out of the sun
If you are sunburned, it is important to stay out of the sun until all signs of tenderness, redness and irritation are gone. If the skin is exposed to the sun shortly after a sunburn, you risk the burn getting worse.
Cool down the skin
Start by placing wet sheets or ice packs wrapped in a tea towel over the skin. Never put ice directly on fragile skin, as it can cause frostbite. Alternatively, you can take short, cold showers to cool down the skin. Avoid using soap in the shower – it can make the skin more stressed than it already is. When you get out of the shower, gently pat the skin dry with a towel or let it air-dry.
Care and moisture
Make sure the skin is given moisture and care at regular intervals – and continue in the days that follow, as it takes time for the skin to heal. Use moisturising skincare with soothing and restorative ingredients.
Karmameju PRE- & AFTER SUN serum-lotion contains clinically documented ingredients that soothe histamine-related redness from, among other things, sunburn. Our INFINITY face & body serum-lotion has the same formula, but without perfume, and is particularly beneficial for children and sensitive skin.
Soothe with pure aloe vera
Apply gel from the healing medicinal plant aloe vera ”Aloe barbadensis miller” to the skin. Avoid the yellow juice from the edge of the leaf when the plant is cut. A combination of aftersun and pure aloe vera can be an effective and soothing treatment.
Soothe with yoghurt
Cover the burned area with cool yoghurt. Choose full-fat yoghurt cultured with lactic acid bacteria (lactobacillus acidophilus). The yoghurt will soothe, and the lactic acid bacteria will strengthen the skin’s microbiome, immune defence and barrier.
Avoid tight-fitting clothes
Instead, bring out the loose-fitting, airy clothes from your wardrobe - in natural materials, so the skin can breathe.
Drink plenty of fluids
A sunburn draws fluid away from the body’s organs and out to the surface of the skin to compensate for the dehydration happening in the skin. That is why it is important to remember to drink more than usual. However, the body’s vital organs will always take first priority for the water we drink, so the skin is ”last in line”. So, stay hydrated.
Drink water with added electrolytes
Electrolytes are nutrient salts that help the body maintain an optimal fluid balance. Electrolytes can be bought in tablet form at the pharmacy, but they are also found in coconut water, which is available in most supermarkets.
If you have neither electrolytes nor coconut water at hand, you can mix your own simple electrolyte drink with simple ingredients from the kitchen.
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- Mix 1 litre of water with ½ tsp. salt and 2-3 tbsp. sugar.
- Optionally, add a little lemon juice to give it a slightly lemonade-like taste.
- The sugar will help your body better absorb water and salt, so you can maintain a good fluid balance.
Eat foods with a high water content
It is said that the body absorbs fluids best from fruit and vegetables. It is therefore a good idea to eat cucumber, melon and other foods with a high water content if you are sunburned.
Always see a doctor if the burn causes accompanying symptoms such as:
Dizziness, nausea, fever, rapid pulse, paleness and cold sweats. If you feel bothered by light or have pain around the eyes. Or if the sunburn is very painful.
A sunburn is similar to a first-degree burn and usually appears 4-6 hours after sun exposure. Some might already feel the burn when being in the sun as a sign that the skin has had enough, while others might not feel it until it’s too late.
A sunburn is the skin’s reaction to exaggerated UVB exposure. When the skin is exposed to the sun, the skin cells produce the pigment melanin, which helps to protect the skin against the sun and makes us tanned. Lighter skin is more likely to get sunburned compared to darker skin, as the lighter skin naturally produces less melanin than darker skin. As such, the darker skin is better at tolerating UVB rays at a larger amount without becoming sunburned. That doesn’t mean that people with darker skin should not use sunscreen. The UVA rays are still penetrating the skin and can cause cell damage and early signs of ageing.
Our best tip is to always have sunscreen in your handbag during the summer months. Just to be safe.
Every time the skin gets sunburned, the risk of skin cancer increases. However, there is no reason to stay completely out of the sun, as the sun provides energy and important vitamin D. Just use your common sun-sense when spending time in the sun.
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Even if you don’t use aromatherapeutic skincare or products for the home, nature still ensures that aromatherapy is all around us. Trees and plants release invisible plant compounds, phytoncides, which research links to lower stress levels and increased activity in the body’s natural defence cells. This is a beautiful account of forest bathing, nature’s aromatherapy and the scientific evidence behind it.
