Oops – you did it again. You stayed at the beach too long, hung out by the pool without proper sun-screen, or thought you were ready for that extra minute in the tanning booth. What you thought was going to beautify you actually made you look like a lobster. Your skin is red, burns, and it’s hard to move. You don’t have to suffer for long because there are a few treatments you can try to help assuage these symptoms.

One of the most important things to do to sunburned skin is to keep it properly hydrated and moisturized. Applying products that contain Aloe vera and/or vitamin E can really help calm the inflammation in your skin. Creams with Hydrocortisone can also help the inflammation.

Benzocaine and Lidocaine are FDA-approved anesthetic chemicals found in topical creams and gels. You can find them at most drug stores. They numb your skin to help stop the pain associated with sunburns. Be sure to talk to a dermatologist first to know the right amount to apply to your burn.

Emu Oil is a natural substance derived from the fat of an emu. It has been used for thousands of years to alleviate pain, burns, and dry skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties making it a great topical treatment for sunburns.

Last, but definitely not least, is the most important tip for avoiding sunburns – wear proper sun-screen!! Use a stronger SPF if you plan on staying out in the sun longer. Reapply every two hours, no matter what the label says, and make sure to reapply more often if you get into the water. The best way to treat a problem is to prevent it.

Did you know that sunburns don’t only affect humans and animals? Sunburns affect trees and plants, causing a lot of damage to their branches, bark, leaves, and tissue.

Summer is the time for lazy beach days and getting a great tan. Sadly, along with that great tan comes a lot of negative effects. The rays that give you that nice glow are also the same rays that damage your skin the most. These invisible rays are UVA and UVB rays.

These ultraviolet rays are responsible for your suntan as well as the sunburn and sun-damage in your face and body. Many sunscreens only carry compounds that protect against one type of ultraviolet ray instead of both. Your skin needs sunscreen that will block or reflect both types of UV rays in order to give your face and body the accurate protection it needs from the sun.

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen is formulated with several compounds that block, reflect, or absorb both types of harsh ultraviolet rays. It should be the only type of sunblock you use if you want ultimate protection from burns, photo-damage, and even prevention of skin cancer. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with minimum SPF of 15 is necessary for this type of protection. Applying sunscreen every 2 hours, despite what the label says, ensures this protection and can greatly reduce your risks.

Check out http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_sunscreens.html for more sunscreen information and for tips to stay healthy in the sun.