Did you know that sunburn can happen just fifteen minutes after sun exposure? The symptoms – pain, swelling, itchiness, and redness – will often appear after a few hours. But while you can take over-the-counter (OTC) meds for symptoms like pain and swelling, it’s not so easy to get rid of the redness. Or is it?
If you’re thinking of how to get rid of sunburn redness overnight because you have an important meeting tomorrow, you’re in luck. This article will give you tips and tricks to get rid of sunburn redness ASAP.
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What causes sunburn redness?
When we are exposed to the sun for a long time, ultraviolet rays damage our skin and cause skin cells to die. The body starts to respond to this damage by dilating the blood vessels to increase blood flow and allow immune cells to help clean up those dead cells. This process causes the skin to turn red.
Other reasons why your skin turns red after exposure to the sun is high temperature and lack of nutrients. These are also the reasons why your skin swells and gets inflamed. Learn more on how long sunburn can last.
How to reduce redness from sunburn immediately
1. Find some shade
Something you need to do upon identifying sunburn symptoms is to find yourself some shade. Look for shade under a tree or get inside a building. Unfortunately, an umbrella won’t be enough to protect you from the sun because the temperature in the area is still high. So, get inside a place that is a lot cooler.
2. Cool yourself
After coming out from the sun, cool yourself down. Jump into a bathtub or give yourself a good cold shower, whichever is readily available. This will decrease your body temperature and decrease the dilation of your blood vessels. Let the water flow into your body. Don’t scrub your body with a loofah because it will damage your already sensitive skin. Another tip is skip the bath bomb because it may contain ingredients that could harm your hypersensitive sunburnt skin. After taking a bath, pat dry with a towel - do nut rub.
3. Change into loose clothing
After taking a bath, change into clothing that is loose. You’ll want to let the burned skin breathe. Using tight clothing will not only impede the skin’s natural healing process but will also irritate the skin as it continuously rubs into the skin with every movement. Besides, it feels comfortable to use loose clothes. Stick to lightweight and breathable fabric.
4. Hydrate yourself
A great sunburn redness reducer is water. Sunburn causes fluids to be drawn to the surface of the skin and away from the rest of your body. To restore lost bodily fluids and replenish electrolytes, consume plenty of water or electrolyte-infused drinks. It also helps to eat water-rich food like watermelon. These will aid in the faster healing of your burn.
How to get rid of sunburn redness overnight with home remedies
6. Hydrate your skin
It’s important to give your skin as much help it needs, especially in the first two hours after exposure. The most common treatments for sunburn are moisturizing products. Before you apply any cream or lotion, be sure that your skin has cooled down or else you’ll run the risk of trapping heat, causing more pain and inflammation. Ditch your usual lotion and swap it with moisturizing cream infused with Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps decrease inflammation. You could apply Vitamin E oil on the affected area and for long-term care, regularly take Vitamin E supplements.
7. Use aloe vera or tea
If there are no creams or lotions available, you can take care of a sunburn with aloe vera or tea. These products are both effective and inexpensive. Aloe vera has become a well-known treatment for sunburn. The extracts from the aloe vera plant form a protective layer over the burnt area, peeling the dead skin off while hydrating it.
Tea has also earned the reputation of being effective against sunburn. It has antioxidants, tannins, and anti-inflammatory properties which help with healing the skin. You can use tea bags for small sunburn spots. Simply dip the tea bag in water and apply the bag on the affected area. For large areas, it is better to take a bath with tea-infused water. You’ll probably need 8 to 10 tea bags for that.
8. Skip that skincare routine
Cleansing and exfoliating are important for your skincare goals. But remember, your skin is stressed and more sensitive than usual. So, besides applying moisturizer, it's recommended to forego your usual evening routine. Certain products might irritate the skin even more and impede the healing process.
9. Take some meds
Sometimes the pain and itch that accompany sunburn redness can become unbearable. You may take OTC pain relievers or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) or naproxen. They can help alleviate sunburn discomfort and inflammation.
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How to get rid of sunburn redness if it won’t go away immediately
10. Let your skin heal itself
Scratching, scrubbing, picking, peeling, or popping blisters are all bad ideas and can lead to risk of infection or scarring. Do not pop a blister since that is protecting the underlying wounded skin. If you pop the blisters, the skin will dry up and get infected, which can lead to more serious skin disorders. To avoid infection, if your blisters open on their own, rinse the area with water. As your sunburn gets better, the size of your blisters will decrease.
11. See a doctor if the redness doesn’t fade
You followed all of the tips we listed above, but the redness from your sunburn is still there. Did you get headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or severe pain for the last 12 hours? Then, It’s time to get yourself checked by a healthcare professional. There are sunburns (2nd degree and 3rd degree burns) that are hard to deal with at home, much less, overnight.
Final reminders
Redness from sunburn is not only a bad sight. It also comes with pain and itching. Getting rid of sunburn requires a lot of care and effort. But hopefully, with these tips, you’ll reduce your skin’s redness in time for your big event tomorrow.
To recap: find shade, cool yourself down, use loose clothing and drink water immediately. At home, use moisturizer, skip your nighttime skincare routine, and take meds. Let your skin be, and set an appointment if the redness doesn’t go away.
More importantly, don’t forget the sunscreen on your next trip to the beach.
Last but not least, remember that taking steps to protect and nourish your skin should be done on the daily. A personalized skincare routine can target your unique skin concerns with specialized formulations, such as a personalized night moisturizer for hydrating skin, sunburnt or not. At Proven Skincare, you’ll get personalized, clinically effective skincare formulated for you based on your skin, life and environment. Take the skin quiz to formulate your custom skincare with Proven, today.
