With the sun getting out more as we head into the warmest months of the year, many of us will be donning our summer clothes and heading outdoors to make the most of it.
However, with more sunshine comes a greater risk of getting sunburn - and despite the health risks it's all too common to find yourself caught out when you've forgotten your sunscreen or have missed a spot when applying it. The last thing anyone wants is sore and burning skin that makes it painful to move around when they're trying to enjoy a sunny holiday abroad or a bank holiday weekend at home.
While it's easier - not to mention much less painful - to prevent sunburn occurring in the first place, if you end up affected this summer there are some easy and effective ways to treat it. Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified dermatologist based in the UAE and co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com, recommended some 'simple' methods to alleviate the painful symptoms, The Mirror reports.
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Dr Hamdan explained: "We need to cool and moisturize the skin, so something as simple as running cold water and applying aloe vera gel would do wonders." If you don't have any aloe vera to hand, "yoghurt or cold milk can offer relief" to the skin, allowing it to feel soothed, the expert suggested.
"Other remedies include calamine lotion or even hydrocortisone creams," Dr Hamdan went on. "Avoid going out in the sun for a few days and stay hydrated. This will promote quicker healing."
Another handy recommendation comes from celebrity skin expert Scott McGlynn, who advises wearing "loose clothing" as "wearing tight clothing can irritate the skin." He also said: "Do not drink alcohol or any caffeine drink as this makes you dehydrate and makes the burn worse.
"And do not put ice or ice packs on the sunburn this cause cut off of blood supply to the damaged skin." Scott also warned holidaymakers to make sure they buy their sunscreen from well-known suppliers and check the expiration dates, as knock-offs or expired products won't offer effective protection from the sun.
The NHS advises getting out of the sun as soon as possible if you get sunburn, and cooling your skin down with a cool shower, bath or damp towel. Apply an aftersun cream or spray to the affected area, and you can also take painkillers if it's particularly bad.
The health service urges people to drink plenty of water in order to cool down and prevent dehydration. You should also cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed - don't use petroleum jelly or ice packs on your burns, and also take care to avoid scratching any peeling skin or popping blisters, the NHS warns.
It's important to remember that getting sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, getting sunburn just once every two years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, compared to never being burnt - stay safe in the sun by regularly applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, keeping yourself covered, and staying in the shade whenever you can.
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