Kalawalla      

Sunburns are about treating injured skin

Date: 9th December 2008, Source: Althealth News

It's summer, which means time outdoors, time in the water and time in the sun. Daily sun protection is essential no matter the season and diligent sun protection is vital for outdoor summer activity.
But sunburns can happen, and relief means more than easing discomfort - it also requires treating injured skin.

Pain relief

A sunburn is exactly that - a burn that results from the heat energy of the sun. Cooling the skin surface is important to ease the burning sensation, but equally important is treating the moisture loss, or dehydration that results with any form of heat. Over-the-counter cooling sprays and gels may provide short-term relief on contact, but for longer lasting relief, you'll need to restore moisture as well. Balms and creams that coat the skin may feel good going on, but they seal in the heat and therefore are not your best source of moisture. Instead choose treatments that are absorbed by the skin and attract moisture, like plant oils and hyaluronic acids.

A sunburn is also inflammation - swelling. Cool compresses can reduce swelling. Over-the-counter ibuprofen like Advil or Motrin, and other anti-inflammatories like Aleve taken orally can help reduce the swelling and the pain.

Injured skin

Any burn is a wound and can damage healthy skin cells. Photomodulation, a light-based treatment offered by many dermatologists and plastic surgeons, can ease the symptoms of sunburned skin, speed healing and help repair damaged cells. In addition, antioxidants have been shown to reverse the damage caused by the sun's UV radiation. Vitamins C and E, idebenone, coenzyme Q10 and the antioxidant properties of green tea are all beneficial topical treatments.

Research is also demonstrating antioxidants can repair sunburned skin from the inside out. Oral antioxidants take at least once per day before and during sun exposure may boost the body's ability to protect and heal itself against the effect of the sun and prevent damage from free radicals. Ingredients like polypodium leucotomos (a tropical fern plant extract), coenzyme Q10, lutein, lycopene and vitamins C and E have been found to prevent the inflammation associated with UV exposure. Heliocare is one supplement with these ingredients that's getting a lot of attention in terms of its claims to prevent sunburn and combat sun damage. But with any vitamin supplements, be sure to check with your doctor and use only as directed.