Sunburn Treatment Specialist in Cincinnati, OH

There are a few tips to keep in mind if you or someone in your household suffers from sunburn to help speed up the healing process including taking a medication such as ibuprofen to decrease any discomfort or inflammation that may be developing and applying something containing aloe vera to the area that was burnt to also discourage inflammation and moisturize the area. Sleep is another way of helping your body heal from an injury such as sunburn, so ensuring you get plenty of sleep will support your body’s natural ability to reduce inflammation and heal. 

It is very important that the area that has incurred the sunburn is properly protected from further sun exposure either through protective clothing or strong SPF sunscreen to allow the skin to sufficiently heal without more damage. Drinking plenty of water will also help to replenish any hydration that will be lost from the area that was burned to ensure that the skin and tissue remain properly hydrated. If there is still discomfort, or swelling, or the area feels quite hot to the touch, you can indirectly apply a cold compress to the area for short intervals to reduce inflammation or take cool showers or baths.

When healing from a sunburn, you should make sure to avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing over the area that is burned to avoid further irritating the area. Additionally, do not apply any topical cream such as petroleum jelly, butter, or oil-based products as they will block the pores inhibiting heat and sweat to escape from the skin and increase the risk of developing an infection. While it is recommended that you apply a cold compress to the area to help with inflammation and swelling, be sure to make sure that you are not placing the cold compress or ice directly onto the sunburnt skin, always wrap the compress in a tea towel or have a layer of clothing in between as direct contact can cause further damage to the area.

The first stage of a bad sunburn is the burn itself. Sunburns occur when the skin is left exposed and unprotected from harmful UVA and UVB rays that penetrate the skin to actually damage the DNA strands that are within the cells of the epidermis. When this DNA is damaged, the body automatically sends blood to the site of the damage to help with the healing process, which explains the red complexion one will develop after sun exposure. The second stage of a bad burn is when the epidermis starts to react to the damage by swelling. This swelling helps to further increase blood flow to the damaged cells and can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a dozen hours. 

During stage 2, the skin will likely appear red and swollen, and feel hot to the touch. Stage three of a bad sunburn is where blistering and peeling of the skin occurs as the epidermis replaces the damaged skin much faster than the rate at which we naturally shed layers of skin. Once the blistering and peeling have completely finished, the skin should be healed of the sunburn.

The rate at which your sunburn heals depends primarily on the severity of the sunburn. Mild sunburns typically take around 3 to 5 days to heal completely, while moderate sunburns will likely take closer to an entire week to be fully healed, and severe sunburns may take closer to two weeks to fully heal. There are some tips that you can follow to help speed up the healing process a bit but to also make the entire healing process a bit more comfortable and ensure it heals properly to reduce the risk of infection. For more information, contact us or book a same-day priority appointment. We are conveniently located at 872 Ohio Pike Cincinnati, OH 45245. We serve patients from Cincinnati OH, Covedale OH, Delhi OH, St Bernard OH, Wilders KY, and Elmwood Place OH.