101 easy tips for a great summer!

Sunburn results from too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure. Anyone who visits a beach, goes fishing, works in the yard, or simply is out in the sun can get sunburn.

If you feel your sunburn is severe enough, call your doctor. Conditions that should motivate you to go to a hospital's emergency department include: severe pain, severe blistering, headache, confusion, nausea or vomiting, fainting.

Prevention is the best remedy here, if you can. Sunburn should be treated before it happens, and here is a sum up of sun safety tricks for your future reference: Choose a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB filters - Upgrade to an SPF 30 sunscreen - Apply SPF to forgotten areas - Look for the sun-safe shades - Wear SPF makeup - Dress defensively - Walk on the shady side of the street. (read more...)

Sunburn should be treated for the healing of current sunburn pain, skin damage and potential skin cancer as well as to prevent further sunburn. Here are several ways you may do this:

• Immediate self-care is aimed at stopping the UV radiation. Get out of the sun and cover exposed skin.
  
  
• Obviously, stay out of the sun while you are sunburned.
  
  
• Reach for a pain reliever. Take two aspirin tablets every 4 hours to help relieve the pain, itching, and swelling of a mild to moderate burn.
  
  
• Anticipate a burn. If you know you've gotten too much sun, try taking aspirin before the redness appears.
  
  
• Following a burn, the skin is inflamed. Apply soothing compresses. For mild sunburn, cool compresses with equal parts of milk and water may suffice. If desired, you can direct a fan on the sunburned area to heighten cooling.
  
  
• Soak the pain away. An alternative to compressives—especially for larger areas—is a cool (not ice cold) bath. Soak for 10 minutes. Add more liquid as needed to keep the water at the proper temperature, and add 20 drops of each of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Avoid scrubbing the skin or shaving the skin. Use soft towels to gently dry yourself. Do not rub your skin or you'll irritate it further.
  
  
• Avoid bath salts, oils, and perfumes because these may produce sensitivity reactions. Soaps can dry and irritate burned skin. If you must use soap use only a mild brand and rinse it off very well. Do not soak in soapy water.
  
  
• Moisturize your skin. Soaks and compresses feel good and give temporary relief, but they can make your skin feel drier than before if you don't apply moisturizer immediately afterward. Pat yourself dry, then smooth on some bath oil. Let it soak in for a minute, then apply a moisturizing cream or lotion, such as Eucerin .
  
  
• Chill out. For added relief, try chilling your moisturizer in the fridge before applying it.
  
  
• Seek hydrocortisone relief. Soothe skin irritation and inflammation with a topical lotion, spray, or ointment containing 0.05 percent hydrocortisone, such as Cortaid .
  
  
• Say good-bye with aloe. Aloe vera may really help wound healing. Simply break off a leaf and apply the juice. Or go for an Aloe Vera gel gel instead.
  
  
• Guard against infection. If you have an infection or are worried that one will develop, use an over-the-counter antibacterial ointment such as Polysporin or Bacitracin .
  
  
• Try an ice pack. An ice pack provides relief if the burn is mild. Wrap it in a damp cloth and hold it over the sunburn. Improvise, if necessary. You could even take a big of frozen peas, for instance, and use that. But make sure to wrap it first so you're not placing the icy package directly against your skin.
  
  
• Drink up. It's a good idea to drink lots of water to help counteract the drying effect of a burn.
  
  
• Eat right. Eat lightly but wisely. A balanced diet will help provide the nutrients your skin needs to regenerate itself.
  
  
• Raise your legs. If your legs are burned and your feet are swollen, elevate your legs above heart level. You'll feel better.
  
  
• Get a good night's rest. Sleeping on a sunburn can be murder, but you need a lot of rest for your body to recover from the burn. So try sprinkling talcum powder on your sheets to minimize chafing and friction. A water bed or air mattress might also help you sleep easier.
  
  
• Be careful with blisters. If you develop blisters, you have a pretty bad burn. If they bother you and they cover only a small area, you may carefully drain them. But do not peel the top skin off—you'll have less discomfort and danger of infection if air does not come in contact with sensitive nerve endings.
  To drain the fluid, first sterilize a needle by holding it over a match flame. Then puncture the edge of the blister and press gently on the top to let the fluid come out. Do this three times in the first 24 hours. Then leave the blisters alone.
  
  
• Beware ice and snow. Don't let your guard down in winter. You can get a fierce burn from the sun's rays reflected off ice and snow. So cover up appropriately and wear sunscreen on all exposed areas.
  
  
• Don't make the same mistake twice. After you've gotten burned, it takes three to six months for your skin to return to normal. When you get a sunburn and the top layer of skin peels off, the newly exposed skin is more sensitive than ever. That means you'll burn even faster than you did before if you're not careful.
  
  
• Take Vitamins to speed healing. Vitamin E, one of the antioxidants, can be taken regularly as part of a daily vitamin and mineral supplement or spread as in an ointment on sunburn. Vitamin C is another antioxidant that will help prevent severe damage from sunburn and shorten its effects. Selenium is a mineral that will help fight sunburn.
  
  
• Rub sunburned area with fresh cucumber slices.
  
  
• Make some tea, let cool, and apply to the burn. While any tea may be beneficial, mint tea, such as peppermint or spearmint are especially good. The teas have tannins that help the healing process.
  
  
• Minor and uncomplicated cases of sunburn cause discomfort and no long-lasting effects. You can expect to feel better in 4-7 days. You may see skin loss or peeling. This is often associated with severe itching, especially at night, after sweating, or after showering.
  
  
• Use Rit Sun Guard Laundry Treatment UV Protectant to wash your summer clothes: it will not change the color or comfort of clothing, but it will add Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to your t-shirts, dresses etc. The typical t-shirt provides an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 5, add in Sun Guard and it soars to an UPF of 30! UPF factor describes the capability of fabric to prevent UV rays from reaching the skin and is the relative equivalent of a SPF rating for sunscreen. Rit Sun Guard works even if your shirt is wet (for those into water sports). It´s safe for the whole family.
  
  
• From now on, follow the rules for a safe tan.

Further reading: The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies Covering new ground in every chapter, this indispensable health classic now offers even more valuable tips for addressing serious problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression, as well as solving a variety of everyday health complaints such as pizza burn and motion sickness. From acne to age spots, from teething to pet problems, you'll have the information you need to help the whole family, right in the privacy of your own home. Organized in a handy format with a comprehensive index, every chapter provides easy-to-follow remedies that show you how to use things you probably have around the house. You don't need to rush to your doctor right away if you have "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" on hand. This is the book that has already helped millions avoid the cost of an office call with practical advice for 146 health conditions.