Sunburn:
No Appointment Necessary

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, February 1 and November 5
Show 306

Sunburns can occur any time of the year, even on overcast days or in the winter. The sun's UVA and UVB rays cause burning and those rays can filter through the cloud cover. If you get a sunburn, what should you do? Take a cool bath or shower, and apply aloe vera lotion or gel to the burned area several times per day. If your burn is severe enough to cause blisters, do not pop them. Popping blisters will delay healing and could cause an infection to spread. If the blisters do burst, apply anti-bacterial ointment and cover with sterile gauze or bandage. Blisters, a rash, itching, or a fever are all signs of severe burn. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away. Of course the best thing to do is avoid getting a sunburn. When you go outside, cover up and apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide because they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. And be sure to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours.