Treating sunburns is easier than you think

With the sun beating down on me right now, I am glad i brought my sunscreen with me to do this live shot. Over 50% of Idahoans admit to getting sunburned each year and it’s no surprise. With our desert like conditions we experience year round, it seems as though the sun is always upon us.

“The healthy glow they used to talk about in the 60s, it’s no more healthy than smoking a cigarette.” said Dr. Lindsay Sewell, a dermatologist in Idaho Falls.

Every year people flock to the pool to lay out in the sun, to get that tan complexion.
Many of us forget how harmful the sun can be to our bodies.

“Tanning is a defense mechanism. it’s a response to injury. Yes, it’s beautiful some people think. But it’s a defense mechanism. It’s a sign of your skin screaming for help.” said Sewell.

With our higher elevation in eastern Idaho, we have a thinner atmosphere that causes more UVA and UVB rays to travel through our atmosphere, leading to a higher chance of getting sunburned.

“If you’re going to be outside you got to be protected. If you can’t be in the shade, then you got to clothe up or sunscreen up or you’ll just get burnt.” said Sewell.

But some of us tend to forget to take precaution to the sun, and the burns can be painful.

Dr. Lindsay Sewell says using a cold compress and placing it on the sunburn will help cool down the skin.

You can take pain reliever medication such as Ibprofin.
Also using aloe will help cool the burn down as well.

Now Dr. Sewell says to check with your doctor before using any pain relievers in case of an allergy. Dr. sewell also says his office treats over 1,000 cases of skin cancer a year.