A Guide to Sunburns and Their Care

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Skip Sunscreen

While it may seem like a no-brainer to apply sunscreen before spending an extended period of time at the beach, there are many people who assume they won’t get burned. Whether they believe they’ve spent enough time in the sun to have a base tan or they just don’t like the greasy feel of lotion, they usually find that applying sunscreen would have been a better choice. While you may have been spending a lot of time outdoors this summer already, it’s best not to underestimate the intensity of the sun when you’re visiting Florida. Our proximity to the equator typically means that you will get a much stronger exposure to UV rays when you’re outside.

Eat Certain Foods

Believe it or not, there’s actually some truth to the expression “margarita sunburn.” Despite the fact that many snowbirds get sunburned on beaches in Mexico due to their paler complexions, there could be a hidden element in their food that causes them to be even more sensitive to the sun. The chemical furocoumarin occurs naturally in some foods, including limes, certain types of carrots, celery, dill, and other plants, and it can cause your skin to be even more sensitive to the harmful rays of the sun. 

Ignore Weather Changes

If you’re visiting Florida during the rainy season (May through October), then you might wake up to a cloudy morning. If you neglect applying sunscreen simply because it is a gray day, then you could wake up to a very painful sunburn the next morning. Often, Florida rain storms will disappear almost as quickly as they appeared, which could leave you exposed to the bright sun without the benefit of protection. Be careful to apply sunscreen every day of your vacation even if it doesn’t feel hot. Remember that temperature is not an accurate indication of how much exposure you’re getting to UV rays. 

Spread Sunscreen Thinly

Depending on the type of sunscreen that you’re using, you should either see a sheen or a white hue once you’re done applying it to your skin. The SPF factor should be at least 20, which lets through just 1/20th of the sun’s harmful rays. Essentially, this means that you can stay out in the sun for 200 minutes before you are at risk for getting a sunburn. It’s important to be realistic, however, and reapply as needed throughout your day. 

If you do your best to protect your skin while you’re in the sun and still succumb to a sunburn, then make sure to try some of our best tips for alleviating the pain and discomfort.

Take a Cool Shower or Bath

Depending on the severity of your sunburn, a cool shower or bath could be the ideal method for alleviating some of the heat radiating from your skin. Cool water can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, which are both critical to help you get immediate relief. Once you’re out of the bath or shower, be sure to liberally apply lotion to help trap moisture into your skin and ease any dryness. 

Apply Aloe

Many homes in Florida use aloe vera plants in landscaping, so if you have an aloe plant at your disposal, then simply break off one of the stems and squeeze the gel straight onto your skin — it’s one of nature’s healing plants! If you don’t have an aloe plant close at hand, then simply grab one of the pure aloe vera products available at most stores and apply liberally. Aloe is known to have cooling and soothing properties and can even promote wound healing. 

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

One of the biggest issues that sunburns cause is serious dehydration. The reason for this is that the sunburn draws fluid toward the surface of the skin and away from the rest of your body. By drinking plenty of water, you can help to restore your body’s natural levels of hydration. Be careful to avoid alcoholic beverages at this time since alcohol will only further dehydrate your body. 

Don’t Pop Blisters

If you have a severe sunburn and have numerous blisters, then it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately. For sunburns where you simply have a few blisters, it’s best to leave them alone to heal on their own. One of the worst things you can do is to open them up. Many people think that opening blisters will make them go away faster, but this only makes them more vulnerable to infection. If the blisters open on their own, you can clean the wound with a mild soap and water, followed by an antibiotic ointment and bandage. 


OTC Medications

Everyone has different levels of pain tolerance, and some sunburns can be quite painful. If you need relief from the pain, there are several over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that you can try, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and hydrocortisone creams. Ibuprofen and aspirin can help reduce any swelling and discomfort that you may have, while hydrocortisone creams can assist with speeding up the healing process. Make sure to avoid any -caine products as they can actually cause further irritation to your skin and even trap heat in.