An Interview With Susan H. Weinkle
Weinkle, a dermatologist in Bradenton, Florida, is a lecturer at the University of South Florida. She wears SPF 85 daily.
Getting just six sunburns in your lifetime will increase your chances of developing melanoma by 50 percent. This is why it's so important to wear sunscreen. Mistakes do happen—here's how to handle them.
• __ Act fast.__ If you're outside and you start to feel stinging, sensitivity, or tenderness, you're burning. Get out of the sun immediately or cover your skin.
• __ Cool off.__ Soothe the sunburn with a washcloth soaked in cold black tea—the tannic acid will calm inflammation. Stay away from sunburn-relief sprays that contain benzocaine, because these can cause a rash. Instead, spread aloe vera gel on the area. You can also take an aspirin or ibuprofen.
• __ Drink up.__ Your body loses a lot of fluids when you're burned, so drink a big glass of water every hour until the intense redness subsides. It's also best to stay out of the sun for a couple days because your skin is more likely to burn again.
• __ Keep at it.__ As the burned skin begins to peel, moisturize it twice a day with something basic, such as Aquaphor. Tempting as it may be, don't peel the skin or use a body scrub to coax peeling. After the area has healed, switch to a lotion with antioxidants such as idebenone or CoffeeBerry. They'll help stop cellular damage.