Anyone who has experienced a harsh sunburn has also gone through the hell of trying to sleep with the burning pain. Even if you do not sleep on your back, it can be difficult trying to figure out how to sleep with sunburn on your back. To help you with this, I have put together this guide.
How Did You Get in This Position?
First of all, the best way to deal with sunburn is to not get burnt in the first place. This means using protective clothing and sunscreen when you are in the sun and avoiding the sun during its peak hours.
You should also keep in mind that the sun’s powerful rays are strongest closer to the equator. In addition, the reflection from the water and sand increase the amount of sun you get, so you may be more susceptible to getting burnt on tropical vacations.
Also, in just fifteen minutes, you can develop sunburn. Yet, you may not realize it until three to five hours after the exposure. So, lather up with the sunscreen right away.
There Is no Way to Immediately Cure a Sunburn
If you found my article, chances are that you already have your sunburn and want to know now to sleep with sunburn on your back. The first step is to treat your burn. There are several options available to you, and they typically work best together.
Over the next day to day-and-a-half, the symptoms of your sunburn may actually get worse once you have one. Plus, the uncomfortable and painful results of a burn can stick around for more than five days. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for immediately getting rid of a sunburn.
Tips for Relieving Your Pain
Immediately head indoors and use a topical or oral non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication as soon as you realize that you have a burn. Pain relievers you should consider are naproxen, commonly called Aleve, and ibuprofen, commercially known as Motrin or Advil.
Some of the redness may be reduced when these medications are used early enough. Since they can also decrease fever, headache, pain, and other sunburn-related symptoms, keep taking these medications as needed as your skin heals.
If you are having trouble sleeping because of sunburn on your back, go ahead and take some pain relievers. Though they may take up to an hour to take effect, they will help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
It is easy to become dehydrated and overheated when you are in the sun for a long time. Consequently, you should drink plenty of water and other fluids that are alcohol and caffeine free for the first three days after you get a sunburn.
Keep It Cool and Moist
To help relieve some of your sunburn symptoms and to soothe your parched skin, slather on aloe vera gel or moisturizing cream. If you are concerned about making your bed a sticky mess, there are aloe vera gels that moisturize your skin without leaving residues that could transfer to your sheets.
If you are in too much pain to sleep, you can get some relief by applying a cool compress to the affected areas or by taking a cool bath. Once you get out of the bath, you should run the air conditioning and spend more time indoors. If you do venture out, stay in the shade.
There are a number of ways you can enhance a cool bath to be extra soothing. For instance, vinegar has one of the components of pain relievers, specifically acetic acid. Therefore, add a couple cups of vinegar to your cool bath for extra relief.
Oatmeal is also helpful in the bath. You can purchase a colloidal oatmeal product or grind up a cup of oatmeal in a food processor and add it to the cool bath.
When Should You Seek the Care of a Professional?
When a sunburn is severe enough, it is considered a medical emergency. If you experience certain symptoms, health experts recommend seeking immediate medical care.
These symptoms include fainting or dizziness, upset stomach, chills, facial swelling, dehydration, confusion, headache, fever, or blistering or extreme skin pain.
The above tips should help you as you figure out how to sleep with sunburn on your back. In addition, they will lead to a quick recovery. Sleep well and stay cool!