No matter how hard we try, sometimes sadly the sun gets the better of us. But don’t worry, it happens sometimes. What’s now important is how we care for reddened skin afterwards. Here we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions and care tips, to help you soothe and soften your sunburn. 

“Will sunburn turn into tan?”

Although many people believe a good way to tan is “I go red, then I go brown after”, the reddening effect they see is sunburn. This has no correlation to how the tan they see after, it is simply an indication that you have overexposed your skin. By following this practice, you are increasing your risk of serious burns, discomfort and future skin damage. Apply SPF regularly and avoiding reddened skin will not prevent you from building up a gradual tan, which will ultimately last longer.

“How to protect a sunburn”

After burning skin, you must allow it to fully heal before exposing that skin to the sun again, with or without sun protection. Make sure to cover up if going outdoors, by wearing clothing over the affected area, with sun protection on underneath. Allowing sunburn to be exposed to UV increases its risk of further damage and discomfort. Don’t allow this to happen!

Always cover and protection any sunburn from further UV exposure with a high SPF factor! - Click HERE to view our range of sun protection ☀️

“What helps sunburn?” / “Most effective way to treat a sunburn?” / “What heals a sunburn the fastest?”

There are multiple things you can do to help ease the irritation from your sunburn:

1. Take regular cool showers or baths to soothe and relieve the skin
2. Moisturise regularly to restore lost natural oils and encourage faster regeneration
3. Use lotions rich in Aloe Vera to increase the soothing feel
4. Take ibuprofen or aspirin to reduce any inflammation to the skin if necessary
5. Increase your water intake to help rehydrate the affected area
6. Don’t expose the burnt area to UV again until fully healed to avoid it getting worse

“Are sunburn blisters…” 

• “bad? Or dangerous?”
  Sunburn blisters are a symptom of very severe sunburn and must be treated carefully. Make sure to avoid exposing them to UV until healed. These may last a few days, and leave blister scars which can last 6 - 12 months. 

• “normal?”
  Sunburn blisters are not a normal occurrence, and are a demonstration that your sunburn is very severe. These must be treated carefully and not be subjected to any further UV whilst they heal. Apply Aloe Vera for a soothing feel. This plant also has anti-inflammatory properties which are ideal for relieving discomfort. Alongside this, we recommend seeking medical advice for how best to care for and heal this burn.
• “a sign of healing?”
  Sunburn blisters are not a sign of healing. They are a sign of damaged skin for severe overexposure and burning. These are considered a symptom of second degree burning, and must be taken seriously. If you have sunburn blistering, you must seek medical advice for how best to help these heal. 

“Are sunburn scars permanent?”

Just like other types of scarring, sunburn scars can fade over time, but will still be visible. Scarring also affects how the skin will react to UV in the future - once scars are mature, they can change pigment differently to the rest of your body, either by remaining lighter, or darkening more than the rest of your complexion. We recommend always applying SPF over scarring for best sun protection. 

“Is sunburn worth it?”

No! Sunburn is never worth it. We strongly recommend not going out of your way to overexpose or burn your skin. This can cause short term issues such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, pain, itchiness, tenderness, inflammation and skin swelling. Plus this can also lead to serious long-term issues, namely premature ageing, precancerous lesions and an increased risk of cancers. Always apply SPF 20 - 30 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply a minimum of every two hours for the best chance of full sun protection.