When visiting Bali, most visitors commonly end up with sunburns from outdoor activities. An excessive amount of sun exposure can result in sunburn. How do you treat sunburned skin?

Sunburn Symptoms

Before discussing how to treat sunburned skin, it is important to know the symptoms of sunburn. Symptoms of sunburn will generally appear within 2–6 hours after you are exposed to sunlight.

Here are some sunburn symptoms that may appear:

• The skin looks inflamed and pink.
• The skin feels warm to the touch.
• Swelling
• There are small blisters filled with fluid.
• Pain appears.

In quite severe cases, sunburn symptoms are also accompanied by headaches, fever, nausea, or fatigue.

How to Treat Sunburn?

Although sunburn will disappear by itself, there are several things you can do to reduce the discomfort caused by sunburned skin. Here's how to treat sunburn:

1. Apply Cold Water

To do this, you can use a clean towel or cloth with cold water. Then, apply it to the sunburned skin area for a few minutes.

If you want to use ice cubes, don't put them directly on your skin. Instead, use a cloth or towel to cover the ice before applying on your skin.

Avoid using moisturizing products that contain substances ending in caine, because these substances can cause skin allergies and irritation.

2. Apply Moisturizer

Apply a light moisturizer while the skin is still damp; and do not use petroleum- or oil-based ointments as they could trap heat and exacerbate the burn. Keep doing this for a few days to keep the skin that is burnt or peeling wet.

3. Use Aloe Vera Gel

You can also use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera to help reduce the symptoms of sunburn.

4. Drink Enough Water

Burns cause fluid to be drawn to the skin's surface and away from the rest of the body, which increases the risk of dehydration. It's crucial to rehydrate as soon as possible and during the healing process of your skin by consuming extra liquids, such as water and sports drinks that aid in the replacement of electrolytes.

5. Avoid Squeezing Blistered Skin

Try not to squeeze any blisters that may be on your skin. Squeezing blisters might worsen the chance of infection and slow down the healing process.

Use soap to clean the area if the blisters have already ruptured. Afterwards, lightly wipe and give it a water rinse. Next, cover using gauze and apply antibiotic ointment.

6. Dress Loosely with Long Sleeves

Wearing loose, long-sleeved clothing is the next step towards managing burnt skin. Preventing skin irritation and letting your skin breathe while it heals are the objectives.

7. Treating Peeling Skin

After a few days, the sunburned area of skin may peel. This condition is your body's way of getting rid of the damaged top layer of skin. During this process, it is recommended that you keep using moisturizer during this procedure.

8. Take a Pain Killer and Anti-Itch Drug

In some cases, sunburned skin can cause unbearable pain. If necessary, you can take pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which can relieve pain.

Apart from pain relievers, you can take antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, which can help relieve itching when the skin starts to peel.

9. See a Doctor

If the sunburn gets worse and is accompanied by fever, chills, or dizziness, get medical help right away.

Additionally, it's critical to avoid blistering or scratching as this might lead to infection. Red lines on the skin and the presence of pus are indicators of a skin infection.

Sunburned skin will eventually heal, but excessive sun exposure might raise your chance of developing skin cancer and premature aging.

How Long Does It Take For Sunburn to Heal?

The level of a sunburn determines how long it lasts. In relatively mild cases, the healing process for sunburned skin takes around 3-5 days.

This condition is also characterized by reddish skin accompanied by pain. Your skin will appear to peel after a few days as a sign of regeneration.

In cases of moderate sunburn, it takes approximately a week to completely recover. This condition is characterized by the skin appearing red, swollen, and feeling warm to the touch. Then, in cases of severe sunburn, it takes almost 2 weeks to heal.

If you are in Bali and have severe sunburn symptoms, you can make an appointment and consult with specialist doctors at Bali International Hospital.

At Bali International Hospital, The Sanur, we believe that wellness is unrivaled in healing your body, mind, and soul. Hence, as one of the centers of excellence, our centre of excellence is committed to prioritizing your skin health by offering comprehensive assessments and treatments.

Our services include preventive care, early detection, diagnostics, and treatment of a wide range of health problems with unparalleled expertise and cutting-edge medical technology right in the heart of Bali.

Enjoy the most excellent experience in medicine and book now!

References:

Sunburn - Symptoms and causes. (2022). Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sunburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20355922

Direktorat Jenderal Pelayanan Kesehatan. (2023). Kemkes.go.id. https://yankes.kemkes.go.id/view_artikel/2477/apa-itu-sunburn-dan-bagaimana-mencegahnya

Sunburn. (2024, April 16). The Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/sunburn/