The Dos and Don'ts After Sunburn: A Must Read from MD GLAM

Read on to learn how our top tips and skips can help repair your skin after experiencing a sunburn

We’ve all been there. Basking in the sun enjoying a refreshing day out at the beach, tropical paradise, or at an amusement park with the kids, and then...BOOM, you notice an uncomfortable burn or itch on your skin. Yes, you've been sunburnt.

Now what?

The good news is that your skin will heal on its own over time. And what’s more, there are a few things you can do to lessen the effects of sunburn on your skin once you’ve already succumbed. We get it. No one wants to feel (or look) sunburned. But MD Glam is here to help you determine which remedies to turn to and which to avoid so you can get back to looking, and feeling, your best. 

How to Determine Whether You’ve Been Sunburned

If you’re wondering how to know if you’re sunburnt, there are a few tell-tale signs you can look for. Not every sunburn is radically tender to the touch or easy to detect on all skin types. Keep in mind that the signs of sunburn can start to show within just hours, and if you are not careful, they could develop into a painful problem. 

Here’s what to look for on your skin:

• Swelling
• Inflamed skin 
• Itching
• Painful to the touch
• Blisters

Remember, too, that sensitive areas exposed to the sun including your eyes, scalp, and lips can be affected negatively by the sun’s rays. That’s why proper sun protection is critical for your entire body. Never strike out for a day in the sun without:

• Applying broad-spectrum sunscreen
• Wearing protective clothing
• Wearing a wide brim hat
• Seeking natural or umbrella shade 

The Dos: How to Combat the Effects of Sunburn 

If you’ve determined you have a sunburn of any sort, the first thing you’ll want to do is find a remedy that will alleviate the symptoms of discomfort you are feeling. Here are just a few ways you can approach this:

#1. Drink Plenty of Water 

Sunburn damages the skin beyond the top layer, causing fluid to be drawn away from the surface and leaving it dehydrated. The best course of action for this is to drink plenty of water and other liquids to stave off dehydration in the first place. Remember that other signs of dehydration on the skin include sunken eyes, dark under-eye circles, and itchiness. 

#2. Moisturize Your Skin

While you’re taking care of your skin from the inside by drinking water, you can hydrate the skin from the outside with the right moisturizer. Look for one that contains aloe which can also help restore vibrancy and comfort to your skin. You can even try keeping your moisturizer in the fridge to add a cooling sensation during application. 

Keep in mind that MD Glam’s DMAE Antioxidant Day Moisturizer not only contains aloe but also helps protect against UV exposure with Vitamins C and E. 

#3. Stay Protected with SPF 50 

Just because you have a sunburn doesn’t mean your skin is beyond needing protection. In fact, in this compromised state, you’ll want to be sure to cover up your skin – especially any that has been damaged – with a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 50. Sunscreen is key to not only sunburn prevention but also helps combat the signs of aging that come with skin damage from the sun’s rays. 

The Don’ts: What Not to Do If You Have Sunburn 

Sunburns can be painful, irritating, and less than stellar to look at. But while you might be tempted by the options below, they’re likely to only make matters worse. 

#1. Avoid “-caine” Products 

If your sunburn is particularly painful, you might be interested in using something on your skin to dull the pain away. And while topical anesthetics, most of which end in the suffix “-caine”, are designed to reduce pain, they can worsen what you are feeling or cause more irritation than you bargained for.

#2. Leave Blisters and Peeling Alone

If you have a really bad sunburn, you may notice your skin blistering or peeling. And while this can be uncomfortable and unsightly, you should resist the urge to try to pop or remove any of it. Allow the skin to heal naturally on its own from the inside out. With the aid of moisturizers, you should be able to reduce the appearance of peeling until your skin heals. 

#3. Stop Working on Your Tan

That’s great that you started to cover your sunburn with sunscreen, but that doesn’t give you a free license to soak up the sun. You’ll want to stay covered and protect yourself from further sun exposure until you have had plenty of time to completely heal. And that includes steering clear of tanning beds.

Sunburn Goes Beyond Peeling for Long-Term Damage

There’s more than just the obvious avoidance of painful peeling that should motivate you to protect your skin properly. Sunburn is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, rays that are emitted by the sun. There are two types: UVA and UVB. While UVB rays are more likely to cause the burns you’re looking to avoid or salve, UVA can be just as damaging. These are often associated with skin aging and signs of wear. 

According to the skincare expert Dr. Cat, aside from genetic predisposition, environmental UV damage is one of the most significant contributing factors to aging and skin damage. The UV rays create reactive oxygen species that damage collagen and result in fine lines, sallow skin dullness, and pigment changes. Wearing sunscreen daily can help reduce the risk of skin cancer as well as help slow signs of aging.

Never Step Out Without MD Glam Sunshout

We know it’s simply zero fun dealing with the effects of sunburn. And if anyone understands both how you feel and how to help, it’s our very own Dr. Cat. Knowing how complexly the sun and its damaging rays can impact the quality and health of our skin, she designed MD Glam’s sun solution: Sunshout Sunscreen SPF 50. 

This doctor-formulated sunscreen is made to combat both UVA and UVB rays while protecting the skin to help it remain youthful and firm. Made with wearability in mind, the formula is lightweight, non-greasy, and fast absorbing for a seamless finish that you can wear under makeup, at the office, or on the beach. And unlike most other sunscreens on the market, it won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts. 

MD Glam’s Sunshout Sunscreen exceeds recommendations with an SPF 50 rating and includes both organic and inorganic filters to protect your skin. These include expert-recommended zinc oxide and titanium oxide which help scatter UV rays before they can penetrate the surface of the skin. 

Leave behind sun damage and combat the signs of aging with a sunscreen designed with your health and skincare routine in mind from MD Glam.