Sunscreen is a must-have for every beach bag and poolside view. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, sunburns do happen. Unfortunately, the damage is already done at that point, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through uncomfortable, flaky skin until it fully heals. Thankfully, we’ve got a few skin care secrets up our sleeves to help you soothe your sun damaged skin back to health.
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most beneficial skin care ingredients you could be using. Not only is it a powerful antioxidant (more on those in a minute), but it also has the ability to stimulate your skin’s natural collagen production and prevent water loss, a crucial aspect of your sunburn-soothing process. Studies suggest that ascorbic acid may prevent trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), thus guarding against dry, dehydrated skin (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
2. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are powerful molecules with seemingly limitless skin health benefits. UV rays trigger the harmful oxidation of free radicals in your body, which can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. As their name might suggest, antioxidants prevent this potentially harmful oxidation, thus offering your skin a protective response and aid in the healing process (Journal of Investigative Dermatology).
3. Cool Down with Aloe
One of the telltale symptoms of a painful sunburn is the, well, burning sensation that makes your skin feel warm to the touch. Aloe vera, known as the “burn plant,” can help to cool your skin down and relieve your uncomfortable symptoms without irritating your skin (The American Academy of Dermatology). Aloe can be used alone, or you may find it as an ingredient in other lotions and moisturizers specifically formulated for use on sunburns.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin after too much time in the sun can help to remove the flaky, dead skin cells on top of the new, fresh layer of skin underneath. The ViaBuff Body Exfoliator is perfect for sun damaged skin, as its four levels of exfoliation allow you to customize your buff to meet your unique skin care needs. For sunburn, you may want to choose the extra gentle or mild buff, whereas your regular skin care routine may better benefit from a moderate or even clinical strength exfoliator, depending on your skin condition.
If you want to use a gentle level of exfoliation on your sunburned skin, but typically have very dry skin, requiring greater exfoliation measures, the ViaBuff Duo could be the perfect solution for you. The Duos allow you to combine two different levels to totally customize your buffing experience.
5. Slather Up Next Time
Okay, so this tip is more about prevention than anything, but it’s so important nonetheless. Although these skin care tips for sun damaged skin can work wonders when it comes to soothing and healing sunburn, the best way to treat any skin condition is to prevent it from happening in the first place. In some cases, prevention just may not be possible, but in others (ahem, sun damage), it’s almost 100% preventable. Just be sure to throw an extra bottle of sunscreen into your bag, car, or purse whenever you’re going to be spending lots of time outside, even on overcast or cloudy days.
The Bottom Line
Armed with the best skin care tips and a trusty ViaBuff exfoliator, you can keep your skin healthy, smooth and glowing all year round. Simply choose the level of exfoliation that’s right for you (and your skin’s seasonal conditions), and watch your complexion improve.