Summer Myrtle Beach Vacation Tips: How to Treat a Sunburn

Look, we wish sunburns never happened. But they’re a fact of summer at the beach. No matter how many times you remind kids to re-apply sunscreen, there’s too often a patch that gets missed, or a slathering of sunscreen that they sweat or swim right through. But, if you treat the sunburn right, you can minimize complaints, bring comfort and save your vacation!

Here are our tips for treating sunburns:

• Head inside as soon as you realize you’re burned
Don’t try to stay outside and play, or you might make it worse. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun things to do in Myrtle Beach that are indoors, and many of our Myrtle Beach hotels even include indoor water features.

• Take a pain reliever
Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (brand names include Motrin and Advil) and naproxen (brand name Aleve) can help reduce symptoms and even reduce the redness.

• Hydrate
In the days after you’re burned, be extra sure you’re drinking enough water and non-caffeinated drinks. It’s hard to heal when you’re dehydrated, and you’ll also just feel icky if you’re not getting enough water.

• Moisturize and apply plenty of aloe
Aloe vera gel and moisturizing cream can help reduce the symptoms of your sunburn. Be especially sure to apply before bed, when the gels can really soak into your skin and do their work.

Now, if you’ve got major blisters or extreme pain, fever, chills, headache or dizziness, or are sick to your stomach, these treatments won’t help—you need to go to a doctor or urgent care.

Of course, the best offense is a good defense—avoid sunburns in the first place by being smart about sunscreen!

Posted 7/20/13