Sunburns are caused by overexposure of the skin to the sun's rays. Although they may seem like a minor problem, they actually cause long-term damage to the skin by increasing the risk of skin cancer and photoaging, i.e. wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

If you get burned once, it doesn't necessarily mean anything, but sometimes even that one time can be enough to cause DNA damage in skin cells, which can't be successfully repaired at that very moment, and this causes the growth of abnormal cells. i.e. the development of skin cancer.

Sun protection measures are very important for maintaining our health and our skin, but we don't live in an ideal world, so we have to ask ourselves - once we burn, how do we repair the damage? That's why we're sharing these sunburn care tricks with you.

1. PROPER SKIN HYDRATION

When you get a sunburn, the reaction is similar to when you get a heat burn from an oven - redness and swelling or erythema.

The best way to restore skin hydration is to start from the "outside in," meaning to restore moisture to the skin with a gel or cream that has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin. Look for creams with aloe vera, and since you need to work from the "outside in," you also need to work the other way around, with plenty of water.

2. REDUCE SKIN Swelling

In addition to using soothing gels and creams, in consultation with your doctor, consider taking anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen or paracetamol) to further soothe the skin and relieve uncomfortable pain.

3. WATCH OUT FOR BUBBLE DEVELOPMENT

With second-degree burns, there is also a possibility of blistering of the skin. In this case, refrain from touching or removing the blister, not only because your skin will heal faster, but you will also reduce the risk of infection. In the case of severe burns, be sure to consult a general practitioner or dermatologist.

4. USE INGREDIENTS TO PROTECT AGAINST HARMFUL FREE RADICALS

Burns may heal in a few days, but the damage caused by free radicals caused by UV rays is often long-lasting.
UV rays stimulate the formation of free radicals in the skin, which lead to premature aging, or photoaging (wrinkles, pigmentation disorders, microcirculation damage, rough skin texture...), and due to DNA damage, can also cause skin cancer.
By applying topical antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, green tea, carnosine, beta carotene, and other carotenoids, you can reduce the damage caused. Topical preparations with these antioxidants help the skin prevent and recover from harmful UV radiation, so include products containing them in your summer face and body care routine.
Other valuable ingredients, such as ectoine, act preventively against UV radiation damage by other mechanisms that are not fully understood, but the prevailing opinion is that they preferentially accumulate in the vicinity of macromolecules, creating a kind of "hydration molecular shield", which displaces harmful free radicals from the vicinity of macromolecules and in this indirect way protects against free radicals.
Topical preparations with these ingredients are valuable allies for skin health in the summer months.
In addition to creams and gels, you can also increase your skin's natural resistance to the sun with diet and dietary supplements.
Fortunately, nature has made sure that we have a wide selection of foods with carotenoids in the summer months, so increase your intake of red and orange fruits and vegetables that are rich in carotenoids: carrots and cantaloupe (beta carotene), watermelons and tomatoes (lycopene), and consider astaxanthin-based dietary supplements.

5. PREVENT FURTHER SUN DAMAGE

While your skin is recovering from sunburn, it is important to maintain hydration status (externally and internally), stay out of strong sunlight by staying in the shade and avoiding sun exposure during periods of extremely high UV index, use products with a high SPF (reapply regularly and according to the instructions on the product label!) and protect your body with additional physical protection such as hats and clothing.