Lobster skin . . . ouch! Even the thought of it brings shivers down our spine! Sunburns can be painful and downright annoying to deal with. Sometimes you’re just stuck without your sunscreen during the day or happen to miss *that spot* in the middle of your back. And if you get a little fried by the sun on a hot day, we’re here to share that help is on the way! Read on to learn how to care for your skin if you’re dealing with a sunburn.

How to treat sunburns using Botnia

If you have a burn, assess how bad the damage is. Anything that doesn’t have blisters, boils, or raw, peeling skin can be treated at home. Otherwise, we highly recommend seeing a doctor right away. 

Burns that can be treated at home can look like inflamed skin that’s pink or red (on light skin) and can have pain, tenderness, itching, swelling, and may also feel warm or hot to the touch. 

To help with inflammation and to cool the skin down, use our Soothing Repair Mask over the affected areas to calm the skin from the burn. 

• It contains arnica and goldenseal extracts that will help heal and soothe burned skin. 
• Our handcrafted rose extract and rose geranium hydrosol help to fight bacteria and soothe inflammation in the skin. 
• Hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate dry and dehydrated skin. 

What’s so great about using this mask is that you can leave it on throughout the day if needed. When it’s time to reapply, gently wash the affected area with cool water and reapply with clean hands.

Botnia master esthetician Julianna, combines the Soothing Repair Mask with one of our facial oils like the Replenishing Facial oil or Wisdom Oil and massages it into her clients’ skin when she sees sunburned skin. Then she uses cool globes (you can also use ice cubes) and massages over the mask and skin for a little cooling action. 

Dani of Trinity Roots Wellness seals in the Soothing Repair Mask with our Daily Face Cream which helps to lock in the moisture from the mask and your skin. She’s seen almost immediate relief in her clients’ skin when she follows this procedure and it’s the perfect duo for treating a sunburn.

You can also store your Soothing Repair Mask in the fridge for a little extra chill. 

Why sun exposure can be damaging for the skin

Ever notice how anything left in the sun becomes faded and structurally weak? The same goes for your skin. Long term sun exposure causes premature aging of the skin. Skin changes caused by UV light are called photoaging. You’ll notice dry, rough skin. See deep wrinkles begin to develop. Your skin may change in color in the form of freckles or dark spots on light skin or light spots on dark skin. You may also see a loss in elasticity in your skin and fine red veins on the cheeks, nose, and ears. Repeated long sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the US! Here are some key stats about how common melanoma skin cancer is across the nation. 

Some sun exposure is necessary. Other than obtaining it through food, we can get our vitamin D from being in the sun; it’s an important nutrient for our bones, blood cells, and immune system to function properly. Vitamin D also helps our bodies absorb calcium and phosphorus much more readily, which helps our bones and keeps our body in balance. Sunlight also helps to boost serotonin levels, which is a chemical that nerve cells produce and help to stabilize your mood, and also helps with eating, sleeping, and digesting. Getting early morning sunlight also helps set your body’s internal clock, in turn, helping you sleep better at night. 

But, how much is too much sun? 

Depending on your skin tone, age, health history, diet, and location where you live, it can vary. But as little as 5 to 15 minutes a day and up to 30 minutes for darker skin types is enough to get the sunlight you need to get that vitamin D and help boost your mood! If you’re planning on being in the sun for more than 15 to 30 minutes, we highly recommend using SPF that day and staying in the shade. And don’t forget to reapply every 2 hours!

Tips to prevent sun-damaged skin

Stay out of the sun (if you can!), especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the sun is the strongest.

If you do head outdoors with more than 15 minutes of exposure, wear that mineral sunscreen! SPF 30 is a good place to start. If you’d like to learn more about SPF, what the numbers mean, and the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreens, check out our post here.

You can also double up with antioxidant protection using our Wisdom Oil, which also has a small SPF of 4! 

If you cover up, even better! Wearing sun-protective clothing, a hat, and sunnies can help lower the risk of sun exposure. It’s time to invest in those nice sunglasses you’ve been eyeing! 

Avoid tanning beds! Even one session can increase your risk for skin cancer.

Be aware of the ingredients in your skincare. Retinols and vitamin C can increase sun damage in exposed skin. Try our sun-safe retinol alternative, Well Serum. 

Check out our full guide to preventing sun-damaged skin here.

Repeated sun damage and sunburns can contribute to the possibility of getting skin cancer and prevention is the best step in avoiding sunburns and photoaging skin. If you’re dealing with skin that’s been a little too sunkissed, we recommend seeing an esthetician before a dermatologist to see if there are holistic ways we can treat your skin. Find a Botnia Spa Partner near you! We hope you continue to enjoy your summer (safely) in the sun! 

Xo,
Botnia