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15th Jul 2018

What to do immediately if you get a sunburn (and what you should absolutely avoid)

Trine Jensen-Burke

It is HOT out there, guys.

And no matter how careful we are, and how often we apply suncream, sometimes those pesky rays will have us feeling a little crisp at the end of a day in the sun.

And if this happens, you need to act fast to minimise damage, according to a dermatologist.

New York City–based dermatologist Debra Jaliman has a fool-proof routine for treating, relieving, and repairing a sunburn, and here is her best advice:

1. Re-hydrate ASAP

Getting burnt by the sun doesn’t just take its toll on your skin, it will dehydrate your whole body, so make sure to drink plenty in the hours and days after a sun burn. As well as water, you can try to eat foods that contain a lot of water, like cucumbers, watermelon and berries.

2. Avoid hot showers

Steaming hot water could make the sunburn worse, so stick to a lukewarm temp instead, and gently pat yourself dry with a soft towel when you’re done.

3. Look for products with these ingredients

Anything scented will irritate your already irritated skin, so opt for unscented creams – or even better, pure aloe vera gel. Moisturizers containing soy or aloe will help your skin heal faster, and avoid anything containing glycolic and lactic acids, as well as products that contains petrolatum, which will trap the heat in your skin and not allow it to breathe – this includes Vaseline.