8 Things You Shouldn’t Do After Getting a Sunburn

There are many ways to treat sunburnt skin naturally, such as applying raw potato paste or some honey to your face. But some seemingly innocent actions can make your sunburn even worse. As it turns out, even foods you eat or clothes you wear could help your sunburn to heal or make it hurt even more.

We at Bright Side searched the Internet to find out what mistakes to avoid if you spent too much time in the sun.

1. Using aloe vera with additives

Although aloe can help soothe redness, you should pay attention to the kind of aloe gel you’re applying to your skin. Some artificial ingredients, such as benzocaine or lidocaine, can worsen the irritation and cause your skin to itch even more. Dermatologists recommend using pure aloe moisturizers to treat sun-damaged skin.

2. Wearing tight clothes

There’s no doubt that tight-fitting clothes can look great on you, but it’s definitely not the best fashion choice if you’re suffering from a sunburn. Wearing constricting clothing over sunburnt skin won’t let it breathe and heal itself. Instead of sliding into your skinny jeans, opt for more loose clothes made of breathable fabrics, such as cotton.

3. Drinking coffee

Sunburns often cause headaches, and while a cup of coffee may seem like it’ll make one go away, it will actually make you feel worse. Staying in the sun for too long causes you to become dehydrated, and drinking plenty of water is crucial to replace lost body fluids. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it makes you go to the bathroom more often and causes your body to lose even more fluids and essential minerals.

4. Covering it with makeup

It might be tempting to cover up a peeling sunburn with makeup, but just like tight clothing, it won’t let your skin breathe. If you absolutely must wear makeup, make sure to avoid heavy products and use soft brushes to apply it. Skincare specialists also recommend working with damp sponges, as they are more gentle on the skin.

5. Exfoliating

Sunburnt skin isn’t pleasing to the eye, and it’s only natural to want to exfoliate the dry, peeling skin off your body. But it can actually damage the skin even more, as exfoliating products tend to be aggressive on the skin. Instead, allow the sunburn to heal naturally, which usually takes up to 7 days.

6. Applying the wrong body cream

Applying body cream can help moisturize sun-damaged skin, but make sure the product you’re using isn’t alcohol-based. Alcohol helps products to reach the skin and penetrate deeper, but it can also remove the natural oils your skin needs to stay hydrated.

7. Drinking orange juice

While citrusy drinks are high in antioxidants, they can also make your skin more light-sensitive. You won’t have to give up drinking orange juice altogether, just make sure to apply more sunscreen and stay away from direct sunlight after drinking a lot of it.

8. Using SPF moisturizer

You may think that a moisturizer with SPF is just what your skin needs to be sunburn-free, but it’s actually not the best way to protect your skin from sun damage. A study has shown that most people missed major areas on the face when applying SPF moisturizer, while people who used actual sunscreen applied it more evenly.

Have you ever gotten a bad sunburn? Do you know any hacks for how to recover from it?