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Sheila Shares

Sunburn Savvy

Founder of The Oaks at Ojai

Okay, you’ve done it. Even after warnings and using all the adult common sense you can muster, it has happened. You got sun burned. (Or a family member or friend has and you’re concerned.)

Contribute it to hiking in the mountains, one more spin on the jet skis, a few more minutes at the pool, a bit more time at the lake or beach, or simply forgetting to put on a hat and sunscreen while working on the garden can all do it. Yes, we know better, but what’s a person to do when it happens?

Here are some remedies.

*Is the skin deep pink and burning? Use cold compresses of equal parts milk and water.

*Is it stinging and itchy? Over the counter sunburn relief cream will help and products containing aloe may lessen the pain. You may be able to buy straight aloe to smooth on the affected area.

*Very red? Feel cold and clammy? Call your doctor. You know when you need to get help.

When you’ve been burned, simply get out of the sun. As soon as you can, try these tips:

*To lessen mild sunburn’s sting, take a cool shower. Or lie in a cool (not icy) bath, add some milk or aloe to the water. Do not use bubble bath, soaps or oils, even botanical ones as they may burn the burn.

*Don’t scrub your skin even with a washcloth. Do not shave. After the bath or cool shower, pat skin dry and apply a sunburn relief gel found at the pharmacy. Moisturizing lotions may help.

*Drink plenty of liquids, especially water to help nourish your skin. Some doctors advise taking an aspirin.

*Drink some more water if you’re experiencing a mild headache. You’re probably dehydrated.

*There’s little to be done about peeling. You can lessen the affects by applying aloe or moisturizing lotions. If you’re blistering, feel faint, out of sorts or queasy see a doctor immediately.

Some people burn quicker than others. To avoid being burned here’s some sun-sense:

Consider the time of day. According to physicians who treat overexposure to the sun and sunburn, you’re more likely to get a sunburn between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. This is when the sun's rays are the strongest. Yes, you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day. Those dangerous UV rays pass through clouds.

You’ll burn more quickly if you are outdoors and near reflective surfaces, such as water, white sand, concrete, snow, and ice. You may not even feel the burn coming on, but if you need to squint because the sun is so bright, your skin is being affected by the UV rays.

You’ll burn more at various seasons of the year. The position of the sun on summer days can cause a more severe sunburn.

You’ll burn more quickly at higher altitudes. If you’re hiking or biking or vacationing in the mountains, be careful as there is less of the earth's atmosphere to block the sunlight.

You’ll burn more quickly when you’re closer to the equator (latitude). You need not be vacationing in the tropics to have this happen. The southern United States gets 1.5 times more sunlight than the northern United States.

Check the UV index on the online weather sites. And next time you’re tempted for those extra few minutes, consider the pain you’ve been in and get out of the sun. Stay in the shade and stay healthy and fit for life.

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Sheila Cluff, fitness expert, television celebrity and owner of The Oaks at Ojai, is the author of Take 5: How You Can Benefit from Just Five Minutes of Daily Exercise and The Ultimate Recipe for Fitness by Sheila and Eleanor Brown. Visit Sheila's Spa on the Internet and see all that's happening at the resort: The Oaks at Ojai www.oaksspa.com.