Sizzling! In a Bad Way

So I was enjoying the beautiful weekend, along with the rest of
the city, and I neglected to put on sunblock. Can I do anything to
fend off a coming sunburn? Thanks! -Turning Pink

Ask Gothamist's Irish roots know a thing or two about sunburn. We, too, got a little rosy-cheeked this weekend, basking in the sun.

You can't do much to prevent your skin from turning pink, but you can relieve and prevent some of the nastier results, like skin peeling. The best thing to do is to keep your skin moisturized - use a lotion with aloe and slather it on liberally.

You can also buy lots of OTC sunburn relief lotions and gels - it's just about the time for that beachy-looking "seasonal" aisle to get set up at your local pharmacy - although we're partial to the sunburn relief lotion the Body Shop sells, because it smells like coconut.

If it's too late and sunburn has struck, beach-net.com has some good tips for soothing your skin, including taking a cool bath or popping a couple of aspirin for a particularly nasty burn.

And, of course, if you do know you'll be outside for a while, bring along the SPF 15.

Got questions? Email us: ask (at) gothamist (dot) com.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Erin O'Brien in Miscellaneous on April 14, 2005 11:24 AM

Comments [rss]

Dan

If you know you've overdone it with the sun, here's what to do: Even after you're out of the sun, your skin may continue burning. To stop the damage take one or two aspirin and guzzle as much water as you can hold, preferable at least a quart. As soon as you've guzzled down the water you should feel the difference. It's all about anti inflammatory effect.

Erin

kevin m: It's definitely not a type-o. SPF 15 is all you really need. Anything above that is kind of superfluous. (Science generally agrees with this, so trust me. I mean, I'm as pasty as they get, basically, and good ol' Coppertone SPF 15 sunblock has served me well.)

kevin m

SPF 15? Are you sure it's not a typo. I believe that SPF 45 is the absolute minimum.

Mat

100% Aloe Vera gel works great. It moisturizes and cools the skin, without trapping heat or giving you a greasy feeling like lotion.

It should be a clear gel and contain nothing but AV... for example:

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=309890

smitty

it's good to put a fragrance-free SPF 15 on everyday, regardless of whether you're going to be sitting out. Walking around is sun exposure too! Put it on your face, neck, chest, arms, and tops of your hands...less chance of skin cancer as well as wrinkles and brown spots later.

autrement qu'etre

Neutrogena, too, makes a nice after-sun lotion. Not at all greasy, smells lightly of almonds. You can buy it at the drug store.

Tara

Yogurt is good for a sunburn! Use real, full-fat yogurt and smooth it on the burned area, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then rinse off in a cool shower. This tip was given to me when I got the worst sunburn of my life in Greece, and it really does take away the pain. It's no excuse for getting burnt, but it can help if things go too far.

sam

Clinique makes an after-sun lotion (don't know what it's called, but it's pale greenish with a yellow cap) that's really nice for when you're not really sunburned but feeling all dried-out and baked and icky. It's expensive but it has a nice light scent and isn't slimy or greasy, which almost justifies the $20 or whatever it costs.