How long does it take for sunburn to heal?

Sunburned skin or what is commonly known by the term sunburn is a condition caused by excessive UV exposure. This condition causes the skin to experience damage, such as itching, feeling warm, reddish, and painful. In addition, strong and recurring sunburns can be a risk factor for skin cancer. So, how long does it take for this sunburned skin to heal? Here's the answer.

How long does it take to heal from sunburns?

Sunburn symptoms usually appear within a few hours of sun exposure. However, skin damage due to sun exposure will be visible after 24 hours. Long-term skin damage, such as an increased risk of cancer, is likely to appear over the years.

How long it takes for sunburn to heal or return to normal depends on its severity. Here is the severity of sunburn and the estimated time to heal as reported by the Healthline website.

• Mild sunburned skin. Skin that is exposed to the sun will look red and sore, and the time it takes to heal is three to five days. Your skin will also look peeling within a few days. This is a sign that your skin is regenerating new skin.
• Moderate sunburned skin. At this rate, sunburned skin will look redder and feel very sore than mild sunburned skin. The time it takes to heal is about a week. Your skin will peel off in a few days.
• Severe sunburned skin. If you experience sunburn of this level, you should immediately see a doctor or go to the hospital for proper treatment and care. Severe sunburned skin will look very red and painful. If you don't need to be hospitalized. Your doctor will advise you to rest at home until your wound has healed. The time it takes to heal from a sunburn at this rate is two weeks.

Do not do this during the sunburn process

There are several things you can do to speed up recovery, namely taking a cold shower, using a non-fragrant skin moisturizer, and avoiding sun exposure.

Even though the skin has started to heal, there are a number of things that should be avoided so that the inflammation of the skin is completely healed.

1. Wear tight clothes

After sunburn, let your skin "breathe", avoid wearing tight clothes because the inflammatory process is still going on.

According to Dr. Shereene Idriss, a dermatologist, said the body tries to respond to trauma by increasing blood flow to the burned area to speed up recovery. This condition makes the area red, warm, and there is inflammation. Wearing tight clothes will amplify this response, causing the skin to swell even more.

2. Use aloe vera fragrance products

The aloe vera plant does contain anti-inflammatory substances and is good for the skin after being burned by ultraviolet rays. However, using skin products that contain aloe vera fragrance can make the irritation worse. If you want to use aloe vera, you should immediately use the aloe vera plant to cool the skin.

3. Drink rarely

You must always remember to drink. "When the skin is burned by UV rays, not only does it hurt on the surface but also the liquid on the skin is also absorbed. So, replace that fluid reserve by consuming plenty of water for a few days after sunburn , "Said Dr. Keith LeBlanc, a dermatologist.

4. Use cosmetics

Even though sunburned facial skin looks bad, don't ever cover it with cosmetics. The quickest way to cure sunburn is to let the skin breathe. Cosmetic tools such as talcum powder or unclean brushes can also be a means of infection or allergic reactions. So, for the time being let the skin appear as it is.

5. Scratching the skin

When the skin starts to peel, it means that it is starting to heal. Don't interfere with the process by scratching or rubbing the skin. Also avoid exfoliating products that contain retinoids, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid. Let the skin exfoliate naturally. Simply apply a skin moisturizing product that does not contain fragrances or other additives.