I gave up being an expert on sunburn decades ago. First, as a teenager, I was silly and uneducated about avoiding the sun. Then, as a redhead, I got sunburned often. So I have had the blisters, swelling, scorching burn, pealing, and more over the years.
Nowadays, I still go out in the middle of the day, but I am more aware of the sun, even on cloudy days. My last battle with the sun was a couple of days around my pool about five years ago. My wife was battling through chemotherapy from breast cancer, and I decided I needed a few hours off.
I spent more than a couple of hours skimming, cleaning, and vacuuming my pool without a hat. As a result, I got a sunburn between the direct sun and the reflected sun from the pool water, but not a bad one. However, the combination of a poor diet, stress, no exercise, and more triggered a rash on my neck that would not go away.
I was fortunate to get a walk-in appointment with my doctor a couple of days later. I explained why I was there, and he said, “That looks like a classic case of shingles to me.” I had to agree. It was stupid to do what I did, and it triggered my first and only case of shingles. The good news is that the medicine they gave me put the shingles into remission within a week.
Options for Sunburn
https://www.today.com/health/best-home-remedies-sunburn-according-dermatologists-t187473. Treat any sunburn immediately upon recognizing it is the first rule. Some people use a cold compress, a towel rinse with cold water. They apply it to the burned area for several minutes a half-dozen times a day. Cool or cold showers also work. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/injured-skin/burns/treat-sunburn
Many people use aloe vera gel or lotion to cool the burned skin. https://www.today.com/health/investigation-finds-no-aloe-vera-popular-aloe-vera-gels-t105315. Beware, though, that not all aloe vera products contain aloe vera. I know a few people who put aloe vera gel or lotion in the refrigerator for extra added coolness on the skin.
Some references recommend a colloidal oatmeal bath. However, I do not know anyone who has used it, and many homes do not have a bathtub. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS4rbIPg-2A is a YouTube video on how to make an oatmeal bath.
I used to use Noxzema Cream a lot to treat my sunburns. https://www.healthline.com/health/noxzema-for-sunburn. I found out quickly that the temporary relief of the burn was countered thirty minutes later by a cream that had dried and caked over the burned areas of my body. I would put more cream on to address the caked mess, and an hour later, the caking was just as bad.
Hydration before and afterward is always a smart thing to do. However, dehydration on top of sunburn is not smart. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/sunburn – offers some additional information on treating sunburn.
Conclusion
If I were to get sunburned tomorrow, I would use coconut oil immediately.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319103#benefits-of-coconut-oil-for-sunburn. Most articles I read on the use of coconut oil say that there is not enough evidence to say that it is an effective treatment. I have had great success – even to the point of having no pealing after a bad sunburn, ones that I would have expected pealing.
Does any remedy or treatment work for everyone? Probably not. Avoiding sunburn is best. However, when prevention does not work, read the ingredients on whatever remedy you select, as many contain toxins that do not stop the lotion or potion from working, but added toxins to your body are not desirable either.
Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com
We use vinegar. I only have white vinegar on hand, and that works for us. The only complaint I received was it stinks! That goes away quickly!