Sunburn relief: How to get rid of burns, treat the skin and how long it might last

So how can you safely get rid of sunburn? Sun protection experts Ladival have explained to Express.co.uk what you can do to treat sunburnt skin.

What is sunburn? 

Explaining what happens when skin is burnt by the sun, they said: “When skin is exposed to the sun it creates a reaction within our cells and as a result, the rate at which we produce melanin increases, hence a tan.

“The purpose of this is to help protect against the damage from UV-B rays in particular.

“If we have too much sun, the protective mechanism is overwhelmed and the skin releases chemicals to protect the area from further damage, which is what we know to be sun burn, causing the skin to become red, hot and painful.

“At a cellular level, the DNA is damaged and DNA strands become bonded together. If this is not repaired by the body, this may be the basis of skin damage, with skin laxity (sagging of the skin), wrinkles and pigmentary changes.”

If you stay out in the sun too long you might run the risk of developing heat stroke. 

How to get rid of sunburn

Initial treatment of sunburn according to the NHS is to “get out of the sun immediately” and to “cool the skin by having a cold bath or shower, sponging it with cold water, or holding a cold flannel to it”.

But after doing this, there is still more that can be done to repair cellular damage.

Ladival explained: “Photolyase enzyme is found naturally in the blue-green algae Anacystis nidulans. Ladival DNA Repair After Sun harnesses the natural power of this enzyme and uses it to help repair DNA damage, restoring structure and reducing the development of sun damaged cells. This supports the skin’s natural regeneration process.

“Restoration of damaged DNA results in better protection for skin against the long-term effects of UV-B. The cooling hydrodispersion gel formula provides relief for taut feeling skin and alleviates sun-related reddening.”

How to stop sunburn before it happens

Of course, prevention is better than cure, and it is best to make sure you are not getting burnt at all. Make sure you are using adequate protection, and make sure it is not out of date. Explaining what SPF actually stands for, Ladival said: “Put simply, the abbreviation SPF stand for ‘sun protection factor’.

“The SPF number that you see on your bottle of sun cream relates directly to how long your skin is protected from the sun’s rays. Of course, everyone’s skin has a different level of sensitivity to the sun and will therefore burn at different rates.

“If your skin type allows you to stay in the sun for 10 minutes without burning, then most commonly, wearing SPF50 will indicate that your skin will be protected for 50 x longer (500 minutes).

“This of course is dependent on your skin and specific level of sensitivity. It is important to remember to avoid spending too much time in the sun when it is at its hottest, between 11am and 3pm.”

What is SPF on suncream? 

It is also important to understand the difference between SPF and UVA star ratings.

Ladival explained: “While the SPF number gives an indication of how long your skin is protected from burning by UVB rays while out in the sun, a UVA star rating tells you protection your sun cream gives against ageing UVA  rays. 

“The two measures are completely different and are only accurate when you apply enough sun cream.”