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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To need advice! Sunburn!

37 replies

Stoptheworldandmelt · 13/07/2019 03:17

Mumsnet night owls /mumsnetters in different time zones, help me!!
I burn easily, and today I forgot my sun cream, and I burnt my thighs and knee caps. During the day, it was sore and hot, but I've just woken up in pain and when I tried to talk, moving my knees was agony! I've stumbled to the kitchen and back for some painkillers and a cold compress, but I'm worried, I can't recall sunburn ever hurting like this before. Should I be worried? Do I need to do something more, and how could I reduce the pain??
And I know AIBU to to use AIBU for this, and I am super U to have forgotten suncream. Any and all advice welcome, thanks guys!

OP posts:
Maniak · 13/07/2019 03:23

I don't think you can do anything. Try to stay cool, drink water, don't put cream on it. That's all I know.

Maniak · 13/07/2019 03:26

It does get worse a few hours after.

Dexterslockedintheshedagain · 13/07/2019 03:31

Stupid as it sounds, I fine either cut tomatoes rubbed over it gives a little relief for a while, or live yoghurt applied to the burnt area

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 13/07/2019 03:31

If you have tomatoes, blend them up and rub in the skin, they are natural sunburn smoother

steff13 · 13/07/2019 03:33

Aloe vera ointment. You can buy it here with lidocaine in it that helps ease the pain.

Is anyone else now getting clickable links in posts for articles? In the OP's post, there's a clickable link for an article about sunscreen. I assume the OP didn't put it there...

Original poster
Stoptheworldandmelt · 13/07/2019 03:36

Thanks guys! I didn't know the tomato thing and I'll get some aloe tomorrow.

And no, I didn't put a clicky ad in my post, I'm a little annoyed by it tbh.

OP posts:
Lauren83 · 13/07/2019 03:50

I believe antihistamines can help too

Screamanger · 13/07/2019 03:53

I have always found germolene to help

BlueberryFool123 · 13/07/2019 03:54

Cold bath

Cold wet towels over night

Sudocreme

WindyScales · 13/07/2019 04:01

Sudocreme Is amazing for sunburn, in fact it’s great for burns in general. I hope you feel better soon.

LeglessGiraffe · 13/07/2019 04:43

Cold bath. Was the only thing that really helped me when I fell asleep on a beach and badly burned my legs. I stayed in it for about 6 hours with my book and just kept topping up the cold water!

cinderfeckinrella · 13/07/2019 05:27

Agree sudocream or aloe Vera works for me. Recently I saw a link claiming menthol shaving foam works really well but never tried it.

RubbingHimSweetly · 13/07/2019 05:32

Cold bath or shower. Cold, wet towels on your legs when back in bed. Drink lots of clear fluid to help your body not dehydrate. Aloe Vera gel.

Make sure you don't get dehydrated!

yakari · 13/07/2019 05:33

If you have any of those face sheets especially in Aloe Vera or cucumber you have rest them on the sun burn, they'll soak into the skin, ease the pain now but also help long term.
Also make sure you stay well hydrated by drinking lots of water.

Moralitym1n1 · 13/07/2019 05:38

Cold bath or cold compresses with cool water or milk replaced regularly.

Ibruprofein.

If sudocream.has petroleum in it, you're not supposed to use it on sunburn.

EdtheBear · 13/07/2019 05:44

Avoid creams they keep the heat in. Treat like any burn plenty cold water, either in a bath or wet towels.

KTheGrey · 13/07/2019 06:46

Cold bath/shower. Coconut oil - the stuff for cooking that's solid at room temp. is astonishingly effective. I didn't believe this until I tried it.

Bobbiepin · 13/07/2019 06:56

Keep it cool, don't put anything on it. Paracetamol and plenty of water (dehydration is a serious concern with sunburn). If it goes white or blisters, go to a walk in clinic/minor injuries.

If in doubt, follow the NHS website.

Bobbiepin · 13/07/2019 06:56

Also burns on your knees will hurt significantly more because you're constantly moving the skin.

WonderWebbs · 13/07/2019 13:18

If you have aloe vera then great. If not natural yoghurt is your friend. Dab onto your sunburn and leave to dry.

Cockadoodledooo · 13/07/2019 13:47

Coolish bath might help? I'd never heard of using sudocrem until I managed to burn myself last week (put sun cream on but clearly very badly, also completely forgot to do my feet!). Gave it a try and it worked really well.

Lockheart · 13/07/2019 14:06

Don't rub fecking tomatoes or milk or yoghurt on it, that's a recipe for an infection if I ever heard one. Not to mention the natural acids in the tomatoes may irritate further.

Avoid creams also, as they keep the heat in. (As will yoghurt, so the yoghurt suggestion is doubly unhelpful.)

You want cool to cold (not ice cold, and certainly no ice) water running over the area or using it to soak.

Drink plenty of water yourself and rest.

Lockheart · 13/07/2019 14:14

Don't put toothpaste, aloe vera, eggs, milk, yoghurt, or tomatoes on a burn. Cold, ideally running, water ONLY until it is cool, and then use an antiseptic ointment if needed.

www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/services/urgent-care-and-treatment/accident-and-emergency/patient-leaflets/?entryid103=438625

steff13 · 13/07/2019 16:11

The CDC says to use aloe vera ointment or hydrocortisone cream on sunburn.

www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/sunexposure/sunburn.html

Tinkerbell89 · 13/07/2019 16:33

www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a21987319/viral-sunburn-soothing-hack/

Came across this using a menthol-based shaving foam like GILLETTE FOAMY SHAVE CREAM, MENTHOL applying it to the affected area and letting it sit for 30 minutes, at which point it dissolves and dries out a bit, which contributes to a cooling sensation. Then rinse off