Red Hair, Red Skin
by Sharon
(USA)
Being a redhead in a sunny climate isn't easy. I am not a sunbather by any stretch of the imagination, but I have had more bad sunburns than I can count.
I don't tan. I burn between my freckles. Sunscreens have vastly improved in the past few decades, but when I am outdoors and active I still occasionally get a nasty burn despite all my precautions.
Therefore, the treatment of a bad sunburn if it does happen, for me is a basic survival skill.
When I was a child, my mother used smear Noxzema skin cream on my sunburns. It does have a soothing effect and an invigorating scent, but I can still remember the chills it spread across my body.
I think I have tried almost every sunburn relief product on the market. Some sunburn sprays have a drying effect that isn’t good for my thin, delicate skin, and many creams are too greasy.
When you have thin skin, anything that is heavy enough to trap moisture under the damaged skin surface tends to promote blistering and peeling when you begin to sweat.
I've found that I get the most effective sunburn relief from hydrating gels and gel sprays. They provide a soothing, cooling, anesthetic effect without adding a layer of oil or grease and the effects last longer.
Pure aloe vera gel is one option you often hear about. But I've found that many of the formulated products feel less sticky on your skin, provide more lasting pain relief and contain added ingredients that help keep my skin hydrated while it is healing.
Because my skin is delicate and I am outdoors a great deal, I often use sunblocks and sunburn relief gels designed for babies or children.
They are lighter and many are waterproof, sweat-proof and play-proof, which is exactly what I need.
Sun Allergy
Human Skin
UV Index
UV Rays
