It's summer time, and whether you've been working outside in the Louisiana heat, or you've been laying on a  beach along the Gulf coast, there's a good chance you're going to encounter a sunburn.

You may have tried everything "under the sun" to stop that sunburn from coming in. Yet, here you are, left red, itching, and hurting.

The American Academy of Dermatology has some tips on how to treat a sun burn, with the first being get out of the sun as soon as you notice a sunburn, preferably indoors:

  1. To help relieve the pain, take frequent cold baths or showers. After you get out of the bath, pat yourself dry, leaving some water on your skin. Apply a moisturizer to trap the water on your skin.
  2. Moisturizers that contain aloe vera or soy can help to soothe sunburned skin. If there is discomfort, an over the counter hydrocortisone cream could help. It is also not recommended to use any "-caine" products, such as benzocaine, as this may irritate the skin or cause an allergic reaction.
  3. To help reduce swelling, redness, and discomfort, consider taking aspirin or ibuprofen.
  4. Drink extra water. When you are sunburned, fluid is drawn to the surface of your skin. Drinking more water helps to prevent dehydration.
  5. Blistering skin means you have a second degree sunburn. You should not pop blisters as they are there to help in preventing infection. Let them fully heal.
  6. Protect sunburned skin. While your skin is healing, wear clothing that covers your sunburn when outdoors. Tightly woven fabrics work best. Check to see if you can see light shining through an article of clothing. You shouldn't be able to see light coming through.

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