Sun damage to facial skin can become a serious health issue if it happens too many times. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, just five incidences of sunburn doubles your likelihood for developing melanoma, a potentially life-threatening skin cancer. Overnight sunburn treatment is imperative to prevent further injury to skin the next day.
Hydration, protection and pain relief can improve your condition greatly, but can’t undo the effects of UV radiation on skin tissue. Perform overnight skin care gently, so you won’t tear or scratch sensitive areas. Be sure to wear sunscreen the next day, whether you’ll be indoors or out, because UVA rays can travel through window glass.
Seek a Protective Environment
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that skin is most susceptible to sun damage between 10 am and 4 pm. So if you notice sun damage before four, get indoors, out of the sun. This can immediately relieve some of the heat and pain that you feel, and prevent drying from outdoor breezes.
Watch your indoor environment as well, though. Sunburn treatment must replace the water loss from facial skin caused by inflammation and possibly dry summer air. Air conditioning will diminish the heat, but room humidity should be adequate to improve your skin’s moisture balance. The AAD recommends using an electric humidifer to avoid dry skin.
Cool Inflamed Facial Skin
If skin is unblistered and unbroken, the Mayo Clinic advises using a soft washcloth soaked in cool water as a topical compress. The temperature will address inflammation, and the water will hydrate your sunburnt skin. The combination will serve to reduce the sting of the burn.
Take a Pain Reliever
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin suppress inflammation in facial skin tissue and ease your pain. The Mayo Clinic acknowledges these medications as safe for adults to take at the recommended dosage for an overnight sunburn treatment. For continuous relief, take pills at the specific intervals directed on the package.
Use a Topical Cream
Hydrate your face in between compress applications. According to the Mayo Clinic, an aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream (1 percent formula) is a better choice for cooling the burn than a commercial sunburn treatment, which might irritate your skin. A fragrance-free moisturizing lotion or cream can also be applied often, whenever skin feels dry.
Drink Plenty of Water
Replace the water lost through sun damage and evaporation by drinking more water than usual after a sunburn. The Mayo Clinic points out that your skin’s increased needs detract from your body’s supply that is meant for other metabolic purposes.
