Sunburns

[Eazy_b97 1]

Alright, what's you're solutions or remedies? I get a few of these a summer which are just terrible. I am ghostly white, take in as much sun as I can, but burn the instant I am outside. Wearing sunblock helps (I'm a SPF 45 guy), but sometimes I'll accidentally wipe it off, say drying off after a swim or just going out for a little run. I find being able to play hockey or just getting a good sweat realy opens up the burns and helps alot, but it is painful. Right now I'm lathering up in some Banana Boat after I thought I could get away with an hour at the Driving Range with only a hat and sunglasses. I've tried alot of things over the years. Mostly creams and gels, someone suggested sleeping face down and having Yogurt on my back, then peeling the yogurt (and essentially the burn) off the next morning. Nothing has really worked and I doubt anything will, but I am curious to see what others are using. I'll try and take a picture or two tomorrow to show what it is like.

[seanmccann 3]

I am ghostly white too and can burn when in the sun for more then 10 minutes. 4 years ago I had a major sunburn and was peeling layers of skin off for days. I used aloe vera and solarcaine. I was stupid and kept my arms out from beside my body and was stuck in that position for days, the aloe can be like glue.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I used to use that Aloe gel, but went switched recently. I've always hated Gels and such on my body. Anything sticky like that REALLY irritates me, so I often opted to go without anything on rather than putting Gels on my back and arms. I generally get at least 2 burns a summer which just leave me motionless for a few days. I can't even sleep. I'll sit on the couch and soak in a bath, thats about it.

[seanmccann 3]

I used to use that Aloe gel, but went switched recently. I've always hated Gels and such on my body. Anything sticky like that REALLY irritates me, so I often opted to go without anything on rather than putting Gels on my back and arms. I generally get at least 2 burns a summer which just leave me motionless for a few days. I can't even sleep. I'll sit on the couch and soak in a bath, thats about it.

Yeah Aloe feels very weird but I meant Solarcaine as in the spray - http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/product_26...-spray-95g.html - It really helps.

[areed89 3]

If you burn that easily be very careful when in the sun, and especially after a sunburn. Sweating doesn't open up the burns at all, to the contrary when you sunburn your skin you make that area 100% innefective in producing sweat to help cool the body. Getting a sunburn then doing strenuous activity is a quick route to heat stroke and death.

Sorry for the ramble, but I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to someone when they can be better informed.

[seanmccann 3]

If you burn that easily be very careful when in the sun, and especially after a sunburn. Sweating doesn't open up the burns at all, to the contrary when you sunburn your skin you make that area 100% innefective in producing sweat to help cool the body. Getting a sunburn then doing strenuous activity is a quick route to heat stroke and death.

Sorry for the ramble, but I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to someone when they can be better informed.

Thanks for the heads up. Being extrememly white sucks.

[Eazy_b97 1]

If you burn that easily be very careful when in the sun, and especially after a sunburn. Sweating doesn't open up the burns at all, to the contrary when you sunburn your skin you make that area 100% innefective in producing sweat to help cool the body. Getting a sunburn then doing strenuous activity is a quick route to heat stroke and death.

Sorry for the ramble, but I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to someone when they can be better informed.

I generally stay pretty hydrated and don't know for fact it opens up the pours. I just assumed it did because....well thats what it feels like. It seems to reduce the pain afterwards and allow more mobility, but I will definately keep you're comments in mind. I've also heard that the constant burning of my skin, since its actual burns and not tans, can lead to skin cancer.

[seanmccann 3]

If you burn that easily be very careful when in the sun, and especially after a sunburn. Sweating doesn't open up the burns at all, to the contrary when you sunburn your skin you make that area 100% innefective in producing sweat to help cool the body. Getting a sunburn then doing strenuous activity is a quick route to heat stroke and death.

Sorry for the ramble, but I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to someone when they can be better informed.

I generally stay pretty hydrated and don't know for fact it opens up the pours. I just assumed it did because....well thats what it feels like. It seems to reduce the pain afterwards and allow more mobility, but I will definately keep you're comments in mind. I've also heard that the constant burning of my skin, since its actual burns and not tans, can lead to skin cancer.

Well cancer is, kind of, when malignant cells reproduce at a faster rate. When cells divide at an accelerated rate, they often begin to form a mass of tissue called a tumor. So since you are killing a layer of skin, malignant cells may produce.

That may not be 100% correct but it is simply what skin cancer is.

[kosydar 0]

Whenever I know I'm going to be out in the sun a prolonged period of time, I'll usually go to a tanning bed. Like this spring break, I went tanning 3 or 4 times before I went to Cabo and I didn't get burned at all, I just got really tan. I know this is the "Vapor" approach to this, but it really does work. If you plan on being outside for a couple hours a day for at least a week straight, I'd say tanning once or twice will drastically help, along with sunscreen. The people who work at tanning salons usually are pretty helpful, and they can probably set you up.

[Jason Harris 31]

I've also heard that the constant burning of my skin, since its actual burns and not tans, can lead to skin cancer.

I read an interesting article recently.

Some doctors are suggesting that more potential cancers might be occuring because of sunscreens. They believe we're not getting enough Vitamin D from/due to the sun, and that could be causing different types of cancers. They claimed that the rate of skin cancer is far lower than the rate of the other cancers.

Part of me has a hard time accepting we're not getting enough sun, since I'd guesstimate that I use sunscreen only about 10% of the time; i.e, when I know I'll be out for thirty minutes or more. If I'm going to be out for ten minutes I never bother with sunscreen. And I can't imagine I'm alone, so that means many of us would be getting direct sunlight 90% of the time.

Still, it's an interesting question, because these doctors are suggesting it's purely a matter of odds.

[areed89 3]

I generally stay pretty hydrated and don't know for fact it opens up the pours.

Actually you may be right that it opens your pores up, helping a bit with the pain. That part I don't know much about, but the burnt areas still will not be able to produce persperation. Hyrdation may possibly help, but the real issue is keeping the body at the proper temperature.

Kosydar has the right idea with the pre-tanning, tanned skin can still function as intended, unlike the burnt stuff. Besides girls don't dig burnt guys :)

[Eazy_b97 1]

I don't know if the others are like me, but its pretty well impossible to get a tan. It goes from white to red. Even when the burn is going away, it goes straight to white, theres no "tan" for me :(

[Thockey17 1]

Put a wet cloth in the freezer for about 15 minutes, then put the cloth on the sunburned area. Repeat that process for about 3 or 4 times.

Im lucky that i dont burn anymore. :)

[WINGS 0]

I went to my pharmacy for a sunburn I got recently, and they gave me a cream; it has aloe gel, vitamin E oil, and collagen elastin in it. It's not a brand name, they make it themselves. I find if I ask my pharmacist about any problem, what they give me works really well. One time, I got a few black fly bites golfing, and the pharmacist gave me a non-brand gel. The bites were almost gone the next day; nothing else had been that effective.

As far as sunscreen goes, I use Banana Boat Sport SPF 30. It's thick but it's good.

[Chadd 916]

Neutrogena makes a great high end skin cream that works on most things. My wife has this blue goo that works great on Sunburn as well, I'll have to see what it actually is.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I've actually tried Neutrogena, it wasn't bad, but the Banana boat is better for me. Is the goo a bluey green? If so, I think it may be the game as the stuff I was using before. It had alot of aloe in it. I also used straight Aloe for a while too. I seem to take more caution to these now that I am older, but there's always the chance it'll pop up and I know some other members have the same or similar problems.

[devilsfan26 0]

I don't know if the others are like me, but its pretty well impossible to get a tan. It goes from white to red. Even when the burn is going away, it goes straight to white, theres no "tan" for me :(

Good to know I'm not the only one like this. :)

[tyler9 0]

I don't know whats with my skin or anything but i have neevr ever had sunburn. Even when were out at the lake and its 100 degrees out i'll be out for 8 hrs n come in just really tannned.

[hip check 0]

I was told by a Physical Therapist that if you suspect you have a sunburn - you just come in out of the sun and notice you may be a bit pinkish, etc. - to take the hottest shower you can handle. This causes the body to flush out of the system all the bad stuff (toxins?) that cause pain from the burn.

Don't have the hot shower a day later, it's too late then, and you are just going to punish yourself with the hot water. It's got to be a couple hours after you get out of the sun.

I've tried this a couple of times and seems to lessen the pain from the sunburn. Your experiences may vary, as everybody reacts just a bit differently. I figure - what have you got to lose?

[Megamandan 0]

Call me crazy but my girlfriend turned me on to this one and it worked very well. If you have a sunburn and want the stinging to go away put some vinigar on it. Put it on a wash cloth and rub it gently where you have sunburn. I though it was crazy but I was dying and had to try it, worked VERY well, the pain went away almost immediatly. This is more of a sleeping tip because of the smell. If you're up for it try it, it works.

[blackhawks4ever 0]

Best treatment I have ever found for sunburn was given to me by a Plastic Surgeon that was in charge of the Burn Unit at the University Hospital.........Non-Menthol Shaving Cream!!!!! Just go out and buy the 99cent can of Colgate plain shaving cream and apply as needed. You look like a total dork (so do it in the privacy of your home) but I have tried this several times and it really helps. Also an anti inflammatory (Advil, Motrin, Asprin, etc) will also decrease the severity of the symptoms. Hope this helps.

[TCsnipes9 0]

I don't know if the others are like me, but its pretty well impossible to get a tan. It goes from white to red. Even when the burn is going away, it goes straight to white, theres no "tan" for me :(

aahhh eazy me too man! stupid me thought "hey, ill give it one HARD burn, deal with the pain, and maybe itll pay off....." well yesterday i was outside for a solid 3 hours, shirtless because it was so hot. just used sunblock on my face and neck cuz i didnt want that to burn. needless to say, im a hurtin unit since. at least the girl-firend actually WANTED to rub aloe vera on my back, so that was a little consolation i guess. ;)

[twiztidwrista10 3]

If you get burnt some of you may think of taking a cold bath or shower. Bad Idea! The cold watter accualy contracts the blood vessels and does more harm than anything. Take baths or showers in luke warm or very even temp. This allows you skin too absorbe as much water as possible. Hope i was some help.

[ash_96 0]

Hey, im the same at the moment. played soccer for 4 hours on monay shirtless. now im totally red. im another ''White to red'' guy.ive never been to bothered about it before because, living in England, its not amazingly hot, but we've been having a heat wave the last week so i killed myself in the sun to try and get a tan!

The doctor told me that wetting a towel in cool water then putting it on the burnt area helps because you need to cool the skin. Also drinking lots of water seems to help me because it rehydrates you.

i tried putting after-sun lotion on today, and it made the pain MUCH worse, anyone else had this happen? it was ok the last 2 days, but hurt like hell today!

[Flyerguy91 0]

for me being italian usually keeps me from getting sunburnt :) MMMmmMMMmmMMM melonan