Sometimes, despite your best intentions, you find yourself having to deal with a sunburn. Maybe you got a little overzealous on your first day of a sunny holiday or you underestimated the strength of the sun. Even on cloudy days, you can get a sunburn. Slapping on sunscreen before going out isn't necessarily going to protect you all day, especially if you go swimming or perspire heavily. You may not even realize that you've been burned until 12-24 hours after exposure.

A sunburn is the skin cells' reaction to being damaged by the sun's UV rays. In order to repair the damage, the body increases the blood flow to the skin, causing the telltale redness of a sunburn. And in case you're thinking that a sunburn is no big deal, keep in mind that just one bad, blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence can more than double your chances of developing melanoma later in life.

Our best advice is to [Link Removed] to cool the skin and also replenish moisture. Avoid rubbing as this could cause pain. Instead, leave it a bit wet and allow it to absorb.
4.Drink lots of fluids. Sunburns can be very dehydrating, so it's important to replace fluids that are lost.
5.Take pain relievers if needed. Sunburns can sometimes cause fever, chills and flu-like symptoms. A pain reliever like ibuprofen can help by lessening the discomfort as well as the inflammation.

If you experience extensive blistering, have a high fever or nausea, or find that the sunburn hasn't improved after a few days of self-treatment, seek medical attention.

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in anti aging skin care and women's wellness. She owns and operates an online skin care store at [Link Removed]

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