Sunburnt - I feel ashamed

[AnotheBloodyChinHair]

I am 47 years old and have gone through life being extremely careful with the sun after burning once when I was a teenager. My DC are both teenagers and have never got sunburn. Yet on my recent holiday I burned my legs so badly I have been in agony these past 3 days or so. I am keeping my legs elevated when possible, drinking lots of water and applying buckets of aloe vera. I am also taking paracetamol and ibuprofen every 4 hours or so. Yet I feel ashamed and like I want to cry from my stupidity. This was a cloudy day at the beach, chilly and windy, I was fully clothed but I sat down and crossed my legs, my dress rode up to my knees and that was that. Am I doing everything I can to treat my sunburn?

Try not to be ashamed- shit happens. It was an accident. I've heard lavender essential oil can be helpful with burns, make sure you get the proper stuff though, not just fragrance oil. Obviously check you're not allergic first. Also, maybe cool baths? Have you seen a pharmacist, see if they can recommend anything?

I've got lavender oil. Thank you Awd

I think you can feel foolish but ashamed seems a bit over the top.

Go to the chemist see if you can get something with lidocaine in it as well as aloe, and chalk it up to experience that you can get very burnt on the beach on a cloudy day.

Why would you feel ashamed? You’ve been careful but things happen that’s out of your control sometimes. You’re doing everything right. Maybe some calomine lotion to sooth it. I know first hand the pain of leg sunburn. I got burnt and the next day I couldn’t stand up when I woke and fell on the floor from the pain. I was on painkillers for weeks. Hope you get well soon.

Don't be ashamed - you've done incredibly well to get this far without an accidental burn, most of us have done this at some point. I got a massive facial sunburn in my 20s just from being out in a field all day, with same weather as yours by the sounds of it! So far my face has still been fine and that was over 10 years ago. I think a couple of days on the sofa feeling sorry for yourself with some enjoyably crap TV would be justified . Could you see if a pharmacist coukd recommend anything topical to numb the pain?

burn this big needs a trip to minor injuries, not market stall muck. please get checked.

air temperature not related to uv strength, although many/most on mn dont get that so you are not alone. hope matters improve.

Ds1 is 23, he's never been sunburned in his life and I've always been a bit of a helicopter parent when he started going abroad on his own with reminders about not burning, cream etc, don't get pissed and fall asleep in the sun etc.

He went to a festival in Spain with his gf a month or so ago and got the most horrendous sunburn on his back and shoulders , he was in agony. I was bloody furious with him when he got back because he was a fool for getting pissed and not putting cream on, idiot!

You got caught out by a cloudy day, don't be ashamed.

Aloe Vera and all the drugs.

Wow-to have been in agony for three days! How long did the wind blow your skirt up for?

I would go and speak to the pharmacist.

Don't put lavender (or any) oil on it. Oil on something hot keeps the heat and will extend the burn.

Bobbiepin - essential oils are not actually oily.