So, You've Decided To Get A Sun Burn...
Jul 27 '00
You are sitting on the couch at home after a long, relaxing, rewarding summer day at the ocean. Taking a moment to reflect as you sip a cold beverage of your choice while watching a ball game, you think how it was a pretty damn good day. As you sit, however, your child or younger sibling or whoever is enjoying poking your arm, watching it turn a ghastly shade of white, to dark. You rush to the bathroom in horror, hoping your worst fears aren't confirmed. You look in the mirror, and reality hits: You've been sunburned.
This is no time for excuses. Sure, you are scolding yourself as you look through the drawer for that elusive bottle of Aloe Vera, but really at this point, what has happened has happened. You need to start preparing for the painful few days that are sure to follow. As a bald guy who used to own a convertible, I have been sunburned quite a good many more times than I care to remember. These are a few things that I always do to make myself feel just a bit more comfortable.
Showers
I always like a good shower when I have a sunburn. There are ways to go about it though. First, I prefer the temperature be lukewarm, leaning a bit toward the cooler side. If you have the temperature too hot, it is very painful. If you have it too cold, you end up with goose bumps. I hate goose bumps when I have a bad sunburn, so I always leave it in the middle. Second, put your shower head to the softest possible flow. A concentrated, hard flow hurts like hell. When toweling off, pat softly and slowly. Rubbing is quite painful and irritating.
Aloe Vera
Not much to say about Aloe Vera except that it is green, it smells really funny, and it feels so very nice after a shower when you are sunburned. You should have a bottle of it in your home at all times. You will not feel like going to the store after a getting severly burned, so save yourself the hassle later and get some now.
Your Environment
I always like to feel like I am cool when I have a sunburn. So I sit in front of the fan a whole lot, and I drink iced tea or iced water. Trick your body into thinking that cold or cool foods actually cool you down. A good deli sandwich will do the trick, leave the jalepenos off. Strawberries or peaches or even a garden type salad will all work. Ice cream is another outstanding choice.
Stay Out Of The Sun!!!
All of this advice doesn't mean a thing if you don't keep your skin away from the sun until you heal. Some people may think that if they are already cooked, then they can go out in the sun because,"Hey, it doesn't matter, I am already burned anyway!" Well, it does matter. If you spend more time out in the sun, it hurts, and it gets worse. Stay inside, but if you have to go outside, then cover up as much as possible and wear sunscreen. If you work outside at your job and it is very hot, I know that it is hard to stay covered up with out being super hot, but hey, you are going to be burning up either way, and staying covered is the less painful route to take.
Sunburns suck, and no matter what you may do to avoid one, you will probably end up getting burnt many times anyway. Be prepared to hurt if you end up with one, but be prepared at home for when one comes, follow some common sense, and you will hurt a little less.
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Epinions.com ID:
roadtripper
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Member: Jon
Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 10 members
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