Feeling the (sun)burn?

Monday, March 25, 2019

As one of the UK’s leading skin cancer experts, Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Susan Mayou is an expert on everything “sun”. From sun protection and sun safety to treating sun damaged skin, sun spots, sunburn and everything in between, Dr. Mayou has intrinsic knowledge and expertise.

Dr. Mayou shared her insight with Prima magazine in an article about treating sunburn. “Sunburn occurs when UV radiation from the sun damages epidermal skin’s DNA and leads to cell death, explains Dr. Mayou. “At a cellular level, sunburn is associated with microscopic changes in the skin and inflammation.”

Dr. Mayou’s top tips for managing sunburn:

Soothe with cold water - take a cold shower or use a cold compress such as a wet towel.

Moisturise - keep the skin hydrated. Aloe Vera is soothing and has anti-inflammatory properties. Apply to damp skin to lock in the moisture and continue applying regularly.

Avoid further sun exposure - additional sun exposure to sunburnt skin will cause further damage and delay cell-repair. Keep any affected areas covered if going outdoors.

Hydrate - ensure you drink lots of fluid. Sunburn can cause dehydration so it’s important to keep hydration levels high and avoid consuming anything dehydrating such as salty foods or alcohol.

Pain relief - if sunburn is really painful, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and pain. If the sunburn is particularly bad, your GP may prescribe a mild steroid to ease inflammation.

Don’t peel - it’s important to resist the urge to peel off flaking layers of skin as this can expose and damage the raw, fragile skin underneath. Let the skin heal in its own time.

To read the full article click here. 
To book a consultation with Dr. Susan Mayou:  0808 250 6830