How to Treat Sunburn Blisters

Most of us have probably experienced sunburn at some point. Sunburn is truly uncomfortable: the skin becomes irritated, red, and may peel slightly. The harmful cause of sunburn is ultraviolet (UV) rays from sun exposure, tanning beds, or similar sources. UV rays can directly damage DNA, cause inflammation, and kill skin cells. While moderate sun exposure for short periods may give you a nice tan (the increase in skin pigment helps protect the body from UV rays), any form of UV exposure is harmful to all skin types, and excessive exposure should be avoided to prevent severe damage, including skin cancer. Sunburn blisters are a sign of damaged skin. For sunburn with blisters, it is essential to treat it properly.

Avoid direct sunlight. Surely, you don’t want to further damage your already sensitive skin. If you must go outside, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your entire body. UV rays can still penetrate clothing to some degree.

• Continue applying sunscreen even after the blisters have healed.
• Don’t let cloudy weather or cold temperatures deceive you. UV rays are still strong even on overcast days, and snow can reflect 80% of sunlight. When the sun rises, UV rays are present too.

Leave the damaged area intact. Do not pop the blisters. While blisters may rupture on their own, it is important to protect them to avoid infection and damage to the delicate layers underneath. If a blister breaks, cover it with a gauze to prevent infection. If you notice signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, pain, or heat, consult a dermatologist immediately.

• Similarly, avoid peeling the skin. Sunburned skin may naturally peel, but refrain from doing so. Remember that this skin is extremely sensitive and prone to further damage and infection. Leave it be.

Use Aloe Vera. Aloe vera is an effective natural remedy for treating mild burns like sunburn blisters. It’s a great choice because it cools the burn. Aloe vera is also thought to help relieve pain, hydrate the damaged skin, and promote healing. Studies have shown that aloe vera helps heal burns more quickly (over 9 days faster) than when not used.

• It’s best to use completely natural products without additives. Aloe vera gel without preservatives is available at most pharmacies. If you have an aloe vera plant, you can break off a stem and apply the inner gel directly to your skin. Let the gel absorb into the skin and repeat as needed.
• Try using aloe vera ice cubes. Aloe vera ice cubes can soothe pain and take care of the skin.
• Never apply aloe vera to open wounds.

Consider using other softening creams. Moisturizing creams are safe to apply to blisters and will help make the peeling skin less noticeable while soothing the area. Avoid using thicker moisturizers or petroleum jelly, as these block the skin from breathing and retaining heat.

• A good choice is soybean-based moisturizers. Look for products with natural and organic ingredients on the label. Soybeans are a plant that naturally retains moisture, helping the affected skin stay hydrated and heal.
• It’s important to avoid applying anything to open wounds or broken blisters.
• You may apply gauze to the blister until it heals if desired.

Ask your doctor for a prescription for 1% silver sulfadiazine cream. Inquire with your doctor about 1% silver sulfadiazine cream, a potent antibacterial agent used to treat second- and third-degree burns. Generally, this cream is applied twice daily. Continue use until your doctor advises otherwise.

• This cream can have serious side effects, although rare. Side effects may include pain, itching, or a burning sensation in the treated area. Skin and mucous membranes (such as the gums) may also discolor or darken. Ask your doctor about potential side effects, and stop using the cream and call your doctor if any side effects occur.

Avoid numbing creams and sprays. The reason is that topical numbing products can cause inflammation.

• Especially avoid lotions and creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine. While they were once widely used, these products can cause allergic reactions and irritation.
• Avoid using petroleum jelly (sold under the brand name Vaseline). Petroleum jelly can clog pores and trap heat within the skin, hindering the skin’s natural healing process.

Stay hydrated. Sunburns pull moisture from your body and bring it to the skin's surface. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, aiming for at least 8 cups (240 ml per cup) of water daily. You can also opt for fruit juices or sports drinks. Keep an eye out for signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, thirst, infrequent urination, headaches, and dizziness.

Maintain a healthy diet to promote faster healing of your skin. Sunburns that cause blisters can heal more quickly with proper nutrition, especially by increasing your intake of protein-rich foods. Extra protein helps repair damaged tissues, supports the healing process of your skin, and reduces swelling, ultimately minimizing scarring.

• Chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products, and eggs are excellent sources of protein.
• The ideal amount of protein you should consume daily is 1.6 – 3 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Apply apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can aid in healing sunburns by drawing heat out of the skin and alleviating pain and discomfort. The acetic and malic acids in the vinegar help neutralize sunburns and restore the pH balance of the affected skin, which prevents infection by creating an environment unsuitable for microbes.

• To use, dilute vinegar with cold water and soak a soft cloth in the solution, then gently apply or place it over the sunburned area. You can also spray it directly onto the skin.
• Only use vinegar on intact skin – avoid using it on open cuts or broken skin, as it may cause a stinging sensation and irritation.

Make a turmeric paste. Turmeric is known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which can help reduce the pain and inflammation caused by sunburn and blisters. Here are some tips for using turmeric powder:

• Mix turmeric with water or milk to form a paste, then apply it to the blistered skin for about 10 minutes before gently rinsing off.
• Combine turmeric powder with barley flour and yogurt to create a thicker paste, then apply it to the affected area. Let it sit for about half an hour, and then wash off with cold water.

Consider using tomatoes. Tomato juice may help alleviate the burning sensation and reduce redness on sunburned skin, accelerating the healing process.

• Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) of blended tomatoes or tomato juice with 1/2 cup (120 ml) of skim milk. Apply the mixture to the affected area for about half an hour, then gently rinse with cold water.
• Alternatively, add 2 cups (480 ml) of tomato juice to your bath water and soak in it for 10-15 minutes.
• To quickly ease pain, mash fresh tomatoes and mix them with crushed ice, then apply to the damaged skin.
• You can also consume more tomatoes. A study showed that people who ate 5 tablespoons of pureed tomatoes rich in lycopene for three months had 25% more resistance to sunburn.

Use potatoes to cool sunburned skin. Fresh potatoes can help draw heat away from sunburned areas, soothing the skin and aiding quicker recovery.

• Wash fresh potatoes, slice them, and mash them into a paste. Apply directly to the blisters and leave on until dry, then gently rinse off with cold water.
• This treatment can be done daily until the blisters subside and the skin heals.

Try applying milk compresses. Milk forms a protein-rich layer that soothes the burning sensation on the skin, making it feel cooler and more comfortable.

• Dip a soft cloth in chilled skim milk and apply it to the sunburned area for a few minutes.
• Ensure the milk is cool, not cold. Remove it from the refrigerator 10 minutes before using it.

Understand that treatment primarily addresses symptoms. Skincare is intended to prevent further damage and relieve pain, but there is little that can be done to speed up the healing process.

Use cold compresses to cool down. Applying cold water and compresses can help reduce swelling and inflammation by constricting blood vessels and limiting blood flow to the affected area.

• The cool temperature helps numb the nerve endings, quickly alleviating pain in blistered sunburned skin.
• You can also use a compress soaked in Burrow's solution (a mixture of water and aluminum acetate). Burrow's solution is commonly available at pharmacies.

Take a cool bath. Soaking in a cool bath for 10-20 minutes can help soothe the pain of sunburn. Feel free to repeat as needed over several days.

• You can also wet a washcloth with cold water and place it over the affected area.
• Avoid soaking in warm water with soap or bath oils, as they may irritate the skin and worsen discomfort.

Shower with lukewarm water. Make sure the water temperature stays below warm. Be cautious of the water flow to prevent further pain.

• Generally, it's best to avoid showers if possible. The pressure from the shower can break open blisters, leading to more pain, inflammation, and potential scarring.
• Gently pat your skin dry after showering. Avoid rubbing with a towel, as this could irritate the skin.

Take pain-relieving medications. If the sunburn pain is severe, you can take anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.

• Ibuprofen (Advil) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It reduces pain-causing and swelling hormones in the body, as well as fever-inducing hormones.
• Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) works by blocking pain signals to the brain and also has a fever-reducing effect.
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a safer alternative to aspirin for children with sunburn. It offers similar effects to aspirin.
• Consult a doctor if you're unsure about which medication is appropriate for you.

Apply cortisone cream to reduce swelling and inflammation. Cortisone cream contains a small amount of steroid that helps to reduce swelling and inflammation on damaged skin by suppressing immune system activity.

• Cortisone cream is not recommended for children, so you should consult a doctor for alternative options.

Understand how UV rays work. UV rays can be categorized into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB are the two types that can cause skin damage. UVA accounts for 95% of all UV rays, making it the primary culprit behind sunburns and blisters. However, UVB rays are responsible for redness or erythema, which occurs when blood vessels swell. Erythema includes redness from sunburn, infection, inflammation, or even blushing when embarrassed.

Understand the development of blisters. Blisters don't appear immediately after sun exposure but rather develop a few days later. Sunburn blisters form when blood vessels are damaged, and plasma and other fluids seep between skin layers, creating a fluid-filled pocket. Don't assume that blisters are unrelated to sunburn just because they appear later. Lighter skin is more susceptible to the harmful effects of UV rays compared to darker skin, so whether you're more prone to sunburn depends on your skin type.

• First-degree burns cause erythema, where blood vessels dilate, causing the skin to swell and redden. In the case of first-degree burns, only the outermost layer of skin is damaged. However, damaged cells can release chemical mediators that further irritate the skin and destroy additional injured cells.
• In second-degree burns, the deeper layers of skin and blood vessels are also affected. Blisters are a sign of second-degree burns, which is why they are considered more severe than a typical sunburn.

Go to the emergency room if you experience certain symptoms. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to serious harm to the body, resulting in dehydration or heat exhaustion. Watch for the following symptoms and call emergency services immediately:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Rapid pulse or fast breathing
• Nausea, chills, or fever
• Severe thirst
• Sensitivity to light
• Blisters covering 20% or more of your body.

Consider your pre-existing conditions. Consult a doctor if you have chronic light-induced dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, herpes simplex, or eczema. Sun damage can exacerbate these conditions. Sunburn can also lead to corneal inflammation.

Pay attention to symptoms as they first appear. When you notice the early signs of sunburn, it's crucial to immediately protect yourself from further sun exposure to prevent blisters. These signs include:

• Reddened skin that feels soft and warm to the touch. Ultraviolet rays from the sun damage the epidermal cells (the outermost layer of the skin). As the body detects these dead cells, the immune system responds by increasing blood flow to the affected area and opening the capillaries, allowing white blood cells to enter and eliminate the damaged cells. The increased blood flow makes the skin feel warm and appear red.
• Pain similar to pricking sensations in the damaged area. The destruction of cells in the affected skin triggers pain receptors by releasing chemicals, sending signals to the brain, causing discomfort.

Watch for itching caused by blisters. These blisters may appear a few hours or days after sun exposure. The epidermis contains specialized nerve fibers that transmit the sensation of itching. When the epidermis is damaged from prolonged sun exposure, these nerve fibers stimulate the sensation of itchiness at the site of the injury.

• Additionally, the body sends fluids to fill the gaps and tears in the damaged skin to protect it, resulting in the formation of blisters.

Monitor for fever. When the immune system detects dead cells and foreign particles, pyrogens (fever-inducing substances) are released and travel to the hypothalamus, a part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature. The pyrogens interact with pain receptors in the hypothalamus, causing the body temperature to rise.

• You can check your body temperature using a common thermometer available at most pharmacies.

Observe for peeling skin. Dead skin cells from the sunburned area will slough off to be replaced by new skin cells.

Avoid direct sunlight. Prevention is always better than cure, and the best way to maintain healthy skin is to avoid sunburn in the first place.

• Do not stay exposed to direct sunlight for long periods. Try to stay in shaded areas such as under a balcony awning, a parasol, or a tree canopy.

Apply sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, with broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Both of these types of ultraviolet radiation can contribute to skin cancer. Many doctors recommend this guidance for their patients. It’s important to note that children, with their delicate skin, need sunscreen applied all over their bodies (only for kids over 6 months old). You can purchase sunscreens specifically designed for babies or those that are safe for children.

• It’s essential to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply it frequently. The best rule of thumb is to use 30 ml of sunscreen for the entire body every three hours or after any activity that wets the skin (e.g., swimming).
• Don't be misled by cold weather. UV rays can still penetrate through clouds, and snow reflects 80% of ultraviolet rays.
• Be especially cautious if you live near the equator or in high-altitude areas. UV rays are much stronger there due to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Be cautious when in the water. Water not only reduces the effectiveness of sunscreen, but wet skin is generally more vulnerable to UV damage than dry skin. It’s recommended to use waterproof sunscreen when swimming, at the beach, or during intense outdoor workouts.

• If you are swimming or sweating a lot, you need to reapply sunscreen more often.

Wear protective clothing. A wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap, sunglasses, and any other item that can shield you from the sun are a good choice. You can even purchase special UV-blocking clothing.

Avoid the sun during peak hours. Try to stay indoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest. During this period, the sun is at its highest point, and thus UV rays are the most harmful.

• If you can’t completely avoid the sun, try to limit your exposure whenever possible.

Drink water. Staying hydrated is crucial for replenishing fluids and preventing dehydration, a serious consequence often associated with prolonged sun exposure.

• Ensure you’re drinking enough water and hydrate regularly when out in the hot sun.
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. You need to maintain adequate hydration and nutrients to keep your body healthy before any health issues arise.

• If you're unsure about how to prevent and treat sunburns, consult a doctor. Always remember the saying “better safe than sorry,” and a doctor can help you avoid the dangers of conditions like heat exhaustion.