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Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 21:32


So as I've mentioned on some other threads, I got really bad sunburned this weekend. We're talking blisters here. Does anybody have any secrets on healing sunburns more quickly? I'm already drinking a lot of water and putting aloe on it. Any other ideas?
Brandon B.
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 78
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 21:41


I've been told vinegar takes the sting out. Thankfully, I haven't been burned since to try it out. Let me know how it goes.
Rachael M
The Master
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 21:53


Vinegar?? That sounds like it would sting even more! I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to try that one. Just in case - what kind of vinegar?
Lilly K
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 22:01


not full strength vinegar!!! you're supposed to add about 2 c to a full bath of warm water...and only apple cider vinegar (the cloudy [i.e., wood-aged] kind you find in health food stores), not white vinegar...it neutralizes the pH balance in the skin

if you don't have any of that, you could try yogurt - plain yogurt either wrapped in a cheesecloth & used as a compress or as a kinda "spa treatment" applied directly to the skin...

you're already using aloe, so that's good!! very healing...if you want, you can add a few drops of lavender oil to it to help its soothing properties...

another one you can add to your bath is baking soda...add ΒΌ cup baking soda to a warm bath for an effective sunburn-healing soak....

I feel for you, Rachael...I've got super fair skin & burn like hell until a "base tan" is built up (which is why I don't even bother going in the sun if I can help it)...haven't gotten blisters since I was a kid, but still...

another thing you could try is cocoa butter...soothing and helps heal the skin (just make sure it's 100%) hope you heal up soon!!
Megan G
Fitness Guru
Posts: 265
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 22:06


bacitracin to the blistered areas, cover with 3M no-stick gauze. 600mg ibuprofen every 8 hours for the pain. zinc and vitamic C in your multivitamin. this is not offical medical advice. and for the love of god, woman. SUNSCREEN.
Rachael M
The Master
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 22:14


Okay, so vinegar or baking soda in the bath. I can do that. Yogurt. Interesting. Had to google cheesecloth. I have no idea where to buy lavender oil. And yes, I burn until I have the base tan, but then after than I turn a nice gingerbread man color.

Also googled bacitracin and I'm thinking it is like neosporin? I did take some ibprophen this morning so maybe I should take some more now. I already take a multivitamin every day and I'm pretty sure it has both zinc and vit C in it.

Thanks for the advice guys!! I appreciate it!
Megan G
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 14 Apr 2008 23:26


yeah, same as neosporin.
Dean Grimshawe
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 09:41


Sunburn!! The only thing I know how to deal with here in the UK is trenchfoot and frostbite. Man, if I could just get a small dose of sunburn I'd be so excited!!
Spyke M
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 10:35


there was frost on my car windows this morning - no risk for sunburn here either


Minu ~
The Master
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 11:23


I'm going to the South of France soon for a wee break, and LO' there WILL be sunshine when I'm there!

If there isn't, I'll just spend the time getting tipsy enough to not care, heheh...
Rachael M
The Master
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 16:14


There was frost on my car this morning too. AL weather is fickle.

So I didn't try anyone's suggestions last night because I was so tired I just wanted to sleep. I guess it takes a lot of energy for the body to heal from a burn like this. Anyways, here are a couple of pics if anybody is curious.





Dean Grimshawe
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 16:35


You lucky little thing!!!
Stand Up Bean
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 16:38


sunburn is pretty much like a cup of ambiens for me. i see why you would've just gone to bed.


Dave Nicholson
The Master
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 16:41


Quoting: rach_1623
There was frost on my car this morning too. AL weather is fickle.


Wow... I wore shorts to the gym in CT... it really wasn't warm enough to hang out in 'em all day, but Friday is looking like a 80+ day!! (27 C for all you foreigners )
Rachael M
The Master
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 16:42


Dean, luck is really not the word I would use to describe it. Haha!
Angie H
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 18:20


Quoting: wayofthewarrior
You lucky little thing!!!



Sunburn is NOT fun. I'd rather hand pluck every hair from my body! Curse my white-ass European (Irish - English) descent. I'm so white I glow in the dark. Throw some sun in the mix.... ouch. Ahhh, how great it would be to live somewhere where people don't make fun of you for being white, since it's the norm!!!! hahahaha.

Having said all of that, I'm going to have to visit the tanning beds soon to get a little color on me. My friend's wedding is coming up in May, and I don't want to overexpose the pics I'll be in!
Ryan F
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 99
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 18:23


Yesterday was 28 C (~82 F for all you Americans ), a record high here. It was super nice out, but a bit overcast so I didn't have to worry about sunburns.

Today is 4 C (~39 F) and raining .
Lilly K
Fitness Guru
Posts: 275
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 # Posted: 15 Apr 2008 18:29


Quoting: fauxvirgo
I'm so white I glow in the dark.

wow!! I thought I was the only one!

here in TX, we're seeing a "cold front"...only 80 F here today! brrr!!


Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 15:16


So I'm peeling like a mofo today. It is disgusting. I think too much peeled off some places because it has left raw, red skin underneath. It doesn't feel too good.
Lilly K
Fitness Guru
Posts: 275
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 15:19


Quoting: rach_1623
I think too much peeled off some places because it has left raw, red skin underneath.

Oh no!! Hit it w/that aloe, Rachael. It will help it heal...so sorry you're going thru all that...I always hated it when it peeled


Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 15:24


Hard lessons, (or lesions as I ALWAYS mis-type for that word!), learned, eh, Rach?

I learned mine in North Africa a couple of years ago, which was doubley retarded as it made for THEEE LAMEST "romantic getaway" ever, IE: AYYYYE!!! Don't TOUCH MEEEEEEEE!!!" waaa-waaa, etc...

I really hope you're right as rain come race time, tiger!
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 15:36


Hahah! That's how I've felt since Sat too Minu!! I can definitely relate.

I'm thinking I should wear some sleeves after the swim to protect the newly exposed skin. I do *NOT* want to make this thing worse.
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 16:23


So should I be putting aloe, lotion, cocoa butter or what on the crazy peely burn?
Lilly K
Fitness Guru
Posts: 275
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 16:30


Whichever you prefer - aloe or cocoa butter...both would be soothing and healing. (If it no longer "burns", I'd go w/the cocoa butter...)


Megan G
Fitness Guru
Posts: 265
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 17:10


For burn patients we recommend the neosporin/bacitracin to areas that are "open" (as in, what used to be under a blister). For areas that are just peely but the skin integerity is intact, Eucerin is the recommended lotion. Multiple applications throughout the day.
Angie H
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Posts: 718
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 18:33 - Edited by: fauxvirgo


Are you itching like crazy too? That's the worst part with peeling for me.

If the skin that's peeling is dry and the underlying skin looks healthy (not red, but hopefully actually a bit tan!), I expedite the peeling process with an exfoiliating scrub - the kind you can get for your face. Ahhh, sweet relief from the itching when the flaky stuff is gone!

It sounds like you're not quite to that stage yet? Probably at the moist peeling stage? When the skin is still tender? Ouch, I'm sooooo sorry.
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 19:31


Yeah, it is in the painful peeling stage. The skin on top is dead as it can be and dry too, but the skin underneath isn't really ready to be exposed yet so when the dead skin peals off the underneath stuff is all red and raw and owey. I went home at lunch and moistened everything with a wet wash cloth (just blotting, not wiping) then lathered down in aloe.

So Megan, if I put the neosporin on should I put a bandage on it or something? I will admit that with this severe of a burn, I am a little bit worried about infection, just because of the raw exposed skin. If I should put a bandage on it, how do I do that? I mean, if its like a giant bandaid, then that will hurt more than I am willing to risk to peal off, and if it's gauze that I wrap around, I don't really know how to do that for the shoulder/upper back area.

Btw, you're a nutritionist, right? How do you know so much about burns?

Thanks to everyone for the advice/sympathy!!! (and not calling me stupid for forgetting the darn sunscreen )
Stacy F
Fitness Guru
Posts: 336
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 20:38


Dont forget to sun screen


Megan G
Fitness Guru
Posts: 265
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 # Posted: 17 Apr 2008 22:57


Quoting: rach_1623
Yeah, it is in the painful peeling stage. The skin on top is dead as it can be and dry too, but the skin underneath isn't really ready to be exposed yet so when the dead skin peals off the underneath stuff is all red and raw and owey. I went home at lunch and moistened everything with a wet wash cloth (just blotting, not wiping) then lathered down in aloe.

So Megan, if I put the neosporin on should I put a bandage on it or something? I will admit that with this severe of a burn, I am a little bit worried about infection, just because of the raw exposed skin. If I should put a bandage on it, how do I do that? I mean, if its like a giant bandaid, then that will hurt more than I am willing to risk to peal off, and if it's gauze that I wrap around, I don't really know how to do that for the shoulder/upper back area.

Btw, you're a nutritionist, right? How do you know so much about burns?

Meg's see-your-own-doc-for-all-official-medical-advice recs:
once or twice a day, wash with mild soap and water. if you need to trim off big chunks of dead skin to make sure the raw areas can get clean, do it with cuticle scissors cleaned with alcohol. you really need to get all the goo off. for the best healing, you need to rub it gently with a washcloth if you can stand it- not all exfoliating-like, but if there's goo buildup, it'll impair healing. then put your bacitracin on the raw areas. get some no-stick gauze squares and stick them on top, and either use some tape to tape down to the healthy skin, or yeah, wrap around with roll-gauze. I dont' know how much area you're covering but you could put a sportsbra over it to help hold it in place, or a tight tshirt. it sounds excessive but it'll give you the least chance of scarring. the new skin that grows back in there is REALLY going to need strong sunblock every time you go out this summer. every single time. sorry.

I'm a doctor and spent time working in my hospital's burn center.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
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 # Posted: 18 Apr 2008 09:00


Rachel, after seeing your pics and hearing more about the state of your burn right now, I'm hoping that you'll be OK for the tri.

I hope too that you'll have someone standing by to apply, (hopefully fast-absorbing spray on), 50+ screen between each leg of the race. I'm having trouble imagining what that wetsuit might do to that new skin during the swimming. Is the water too cold for going sans-suit?

How's the weather looking for that day? Here's to cloud cover from start to finish.

I'm rootin' for ya!
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