If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of getting sunburn, then you know that the healing process can be long and painful. To make the healing process as quick and painless as possible, it’s essential to follow these tips for proper sunburn care.

The main problems of tanning enthusiasts

Sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D and serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that makes people feel happy. So when you tan, your mood will improve, and you will feel more energetic.

But along with such positive impacts, the following negative changes occur:

• dramatic aging of the skin;
• loss of moisture and excessive dryness of the skin;
• the formation of wrinkles;
• the appearance of age spots;
• peeling of the skin;
• photodermatitis (itching, redness of certain areas, blisters);
• the formation of vascular networks;
• loss of elasticity and firmness (a decrease in collagen production).

How to protect your skin from negative effects

Sunburn can be a lot of stress for the skin. The skin needs time to calm down and recover. It usually takes three stages:

Cleansing

Gradually, the top layer of your skin will die. Dead cells will build up in your pores. As a result, the color of your skin will fade. You might feel like your tan is “washing off.” You should use a scrub to cleanse the pores of dead cells and keep your tan. Do not use preparations that contain sharp, abrasive particles – walnut shells or apricot pits. Such preparations will cause microtrauma and discomfort.

Moisturizing

The sun dries out the skin. The epidermis is the top layer of skin and loses its natural moisture. When there is a lack of water, the skin becomes dry, flaky, wrinkled, and less elastic. So the next step should be to moisturize the skin. You can use various products – from light lotions to thick creams. The main thing is that the product is suitable for your skin type and contains natural ingredients. Do not forget to apply a moisturizer to the neck, chest, and hands – these are where signs of aging appear first.

Nutrition

The epidermis loses a lot of moisture and important vitamins and minerals. It must be restored. The best way to do this is with a healthy diet. Eat foods high in vitamins A, C, and E – these antioxidants help the skin regenerate. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Drink plenty of water – at least eight glasses a day.

Protection

After cleansing and moisturizing, it is important to protect the skin from the sun. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply it 20-30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every 2 hours, even on cloudy days. If you are swimming or sweating, reapply more often.

If you follow these simple tips, your skin will recover quickly, and you will minimize the negative effects of sunburn.