How to deal with sunburn is a subject we all know a little about.

The summer holidays are coming up on the not-so-distant horizon, with plans for trips abroad and days out in the sunshine soon arriving.

As the weather becomes warmer and the temperature rises, we all know the importance of keeping safe in the sun and how to deal with sunburn.

But following that advice is a different matter altogether.

Painful, awkward and often awful-looking, no one is immune to sunburn; especially as the warmer months are set to hit record temperatures again this year.

Whether it’s spending a few hours out shopping, enjoying a morning out walking the dog or just travelling to and from the school run, sunburn can strike at any time.

So, once you’ve forgotten the sun cream or left the hat at home, and found yourself stuck with that big, painful mark for your trouble, what can you do to help deal with that bright red burn as effectively as possible?

Forget flaky, red-hot skin and itchy healing times. These options will give you some insight into how to deal with sunburn and relieve some of the intense redness and heat.

Remedies and treatments for dealing with sunburn

Aloe-rich moisturisers and creams

Aloe Vera is often touted as the most popular way to deal with sunburn woes, in part thanks to its excellent healing properties and cooling effect on the skin.

Many store-bought after-sun products include either Aloe or similar Soy products to offer immediate relief to hot, burnt skin.

While you can find Aloe in many products targeted explicitly at sunburn, cheaper alternatives for generic Aloe products are also available that are just as effective when it comes to healing and cooling burnt skin.

Or, if you spend a lot of time out in the sun, invest in an Aloe Vera plant for your home to always have some on hand.

Choose something nourishing and light to ensure a smoother application and better healing time, and you’ll be back on the beach sooner than you might think.

NSAIDS, or anti-inflammatory medication

When you first notice your sunburn appearing, taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen can provide fast relief, as well as helping to prevent skin damage as a result of the redness and swelling that sunburn can cause.

Doctors recommend taking tablets within four to six hours of the sunburn occurring for the highest level of effectiveness.

While paracetamol might seem like the best choice to take when you’re in pain, choosing ibuprofen or similar anti-inflammatories can have far more benefits than simply helping with the pain.

Because of their specific use, they can help to reduce that tight, swollen feeling that sunburn can cause, which is all-important when it comes to how to deal with sunburn.

Hydration

It’s just as essential to keep your skin moisturised internally as it is externally. Staying hydrated is vitally important to individuals suffering from sunburn, as it can result in severe dehydration internally.

Dizziness and nausea can occur as a result of this symptom, but often taking some time to drink some water and cooling down can quickly leave you feeling a little better.

Water is, of course, the ideal choice for quick and sufficient hydration, though sports-style drinks can also be used to recover the body’s electrolytes.

It’s essential to stay hydrated at all times, but sunburn in particular will draw fluid from all over the body - not just the surface area it directly affects.

Make sure that you always have a bottle of water, and keep it cool and topped up for best practice.

Cool compresses

The minute you notice that you’re suffering from sunburn, it’s advisable to seek treatment as quickly as possible.

Applying a cold compress to the skin as soon as possible can make a massive difference to severe sunburn, hydrating your skin and reducing inflammation even more effectively than NSAIDs or drinking water.

A cold compress can be created with ice wrapped in thin material to prevent it from sticking to the skin.

For further soothing properties, some dermatologists actually advise combining ice with milk or egg for even better effects.

In this case, the compress is soaked in the liquid before being applied to the skin, providing a cooling effect and allowing the proteins in the milk or egg to soothe the area further.

Whichever type of compress you have access to, taking prompt action can make all the difference.

Cold baths or showers

Rinsing in cool water can help to lower your overall body temperature, reducing the hot and prickly feeling that comes with sunburn. It’s advised to be as gentle as possible when washing following sunburn and to opt for cool water over water that’s either freezing cold or warm.

This rinse will help to comfort and soothe the skin and can be repeated every day or a few times a day until the sunburn subsides.

As your burned skin will be more sensitive to and irritated by materials such as washcloths or loofahs, it’s important to be as gentle as possible, using mild cleansers and ensuring the pressure on your shower is turned down to low to avoid any further irritation.

Follow each shower or bath by patting the skin dry and moisturising with one of the Aloe or Soy-based moisturisers suggested above.

Stay out of the sun

While it may sound obvious, keeping out of the sun and in the shade is a must to deal with your sunburn effectively.

The only thing worse than one round of sunburn is getting further burns on top of already damaged skin, leading to even more pain and longer healing time.

Opt for light clothes that cover you completely, high-SPF sun cream and a floppy hat to ensure that your face is safe from the sun’s rays.

It’s also essential to be entirely aware of your surroundings; even if it’s a windy or breezy day, the sun could still be shining brightly enough to cause you harm, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Speak to a medical professional

If you’re having particular trouble when dealing with your sunburn, or if the redness doesn’t seem to be going away, then making an appointment with your GP or a dermatologist is a good idea.

This is especially the case if you still have blisters or your skin doesn’t seem to be healing as quickly as it should, as you’re at higher risk of infection.

It’s also crucial to check how you feel in the days following your sunburn.

If you have a fever or the pain is too severe for over-the-counter medication, going to A&E should be your next step to ensure you’re not suffering from sun poisoning.

Hives, wheezing, dizziness and a persistent headache can be signs of this or severe dehydration, so if you’re unsure it’s well worth calling 111 for advice.

How collagen supplements can help deal with sunburn

If you’ve followed all of the above advice and you’re looking for more guidance into what can help you get back to your healthy, happy self that much faster, then adding collagen supplements to your post-sunburn care plan could be a valuable addition.

Supplements can offer properties that can improve the healing rate of your skin, allowing those red, angry patches to subside that bit quicker.

A collagen supplement taken at regular intervals can offer the body support when it comes to repairing damaged skin.

When you have a sunburn, your body goes into ‘repair mode’ to heal the damage caused and leave your skin treated, smooth and clear.

Individuals with weaker collagen are more susceptible to damage in all kinds of ways, including through exposure to the sun; so topping up those levels is essential to providing our body with the tools it needs to work better.

Collagen is vital to protecting your skin from UV rays, helping to reduce the damaging effects of the sun.

Combined with other necessary vitamins, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E, collagen can offer that extra boost your body needs to effectively and adequately treat sunburn as and when it occurs.

If you take collagen regularly, it won’t just offer better biological aftercare for that next sunburn – it can also help to prevent your body from being burnt in the first place.

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t cover up appropriately for hot weather, but on the off-chance that you do forget, collagen will provide the additional protection that your body needs.

Combined with other sunburn remedies, and healthier habits when it comes to your beach-hopping and sun-lounging, sunburns can be a rarity as opposed to a regular occurrence.

Collagen supplements from Absolute Collagen

For concentrated, effective and proven collagen supplements that do all they say on the tin, Absolute Collagen is the top solution.

Whether you want to get into better habits when it comes to caring for your skin (sunburn or otherwise), or you’d like to reduce signs of ageing overall, our easy to use and routine-friendly sachets are the obvious choice.

Find out more about Absolute Collagen online today, or purchase our Beauty or Stud Box now to discover an effective way to prevent sunburn before it even occurs – and a healing boost for when it does.