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The urge to soak up the sun for many people is irresistible. But a single sunburn can damage your
skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. If you think about it-a sunburn is sort of an "SOS" for the skin, which responds to the sun by making darker skin cells.
Even mild sunburns can be painful. To help sooth your sun scorched skin:
Try taking a cool shower or bath or apply cool compresses for 15 minutes several times a day, use
a one percent hydrocortisone cream, and over the counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help to alleviate the pain from sunburn. Also avoid petroleum jelly and lotions. They hold in the heat.
Severe sunburns sometime require immediate medical attention. If you develop a fever, nausea,
dizziness, sensitivity to light or severe pain-call your doctor right away. Also, don't pop those fluid filled blisters-they can become infected.
Although most people do not realize it, doctors can prescribe a corticosteroid cream that soothes
the skin and speeds up the healing process.
Key thing to remember this summer--a Sunburn is better prevented than treated. Wear a hat, wear
light colored clothing and of course, pick a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and don't be afraid to slather it on. |