Australia is home to some of the harshest UV conditions in the world and the highest skin cancer rates, making adequate sun protection critical when venturing outside, especially during peak UV times. With this in mind, it’s essential that you learn how to effectively protect your skin if you plan on enjoying some time in the sun.
Despite the dangers of excess sun exposure, recent research by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Cancer Council found that almost 50% of Australians aren’t using adequate skin protection. But that’s not all. Out of the nearly 2 million Australians who attempted to get a suntan in 2023, almost 1.5 million had been sunburnt in the week leading up to the survey.
Here’s what you need to know about the causes and symptoms of sunburn, along with some effective methods to help relieve discomfort and irritation.
What is sunburn? Why is it so bad for your skin?
Sunburn is a type of skin damage caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources, like tanning beds. It happens when the UV rays damage DNA in the upper layer of your skin cells, resulting in painful stinging, itching, redness and even blistering in extreme cases.
Under the Australian sun, sunburn can develop in just 15 minutes. But sunburn doesn’t just temporarily affect the outer layers of your skin. Excess sun exposure can also alter the genetic makeup of your skin cells, increasing the risk of developing skin cancer and melanoma. Not to mention, it’s one of the leading causes of premature ageing.
Sunburn cases vary in severity from mild to severe, depending on the depth and size of the affected area. The two most common types of sunburn include:
- First-degree burns: A mild case of sunburn typically affects the outer layer of your skin, known as the epidermis. It’s often characterised by symptoms of redness, pain and slight swelling. The skin might also feel warm or tender to the touch. These symptoms can often be relieved by taking aspirin or ibuprofen or applying some moisturising cream. A first-degree sunburn will usually take a few days to heal.
- Second-degree burns: A moderate case of sunburn extends into the deeper layers of the skin and into the dermis. Second-degree sunburns are usually more painful, with intense redness, swelling, pain and blistering. This amount of sun damage can take anywhere from one to two weeks to heal, with a higher risk of scarring and infection if blisters form and break.
Third-degree burns are uncommon but require immediate medical attention. In severe cases, sunburn can penetrate through all skin layers, potentially affecting underlying tissues. The skin appears white or charred and is often accompanied by numbness due to nerve damage. Third-degree sunburns can take weeks to months to heal, often resulting in permanent damage and scarring.
Ultimately, the first course of action should be to avoid sunburn entirely by using a combination of sun protection measures and following the five SunSmart steps: ‘slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.’ This involves:
- Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
- Slop on SPF (sun protection factor) 50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
- Slap on a hat that protects your face, head, neck and ears.
- Seek some shade.
- Slide on some sunglasses that meet Australian Standard AS/NZS 1067.
If you still manage to get sunburnt despite your best efforts, there are a few steps you can take to relieve the symptoms and support your skin’s healing process. Most cases of first- and second-degree sunburn can be treated at home with a range of treatment options, including:
- Apply aloe vera gel or a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser to reduce dryness and peeling,
- Take a cool (not cold) shower or bath to soothe the burn,
- Drink plenty of water to help replenish fluids lost due to sunburn,
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers (EG. ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol) to reduce pain and swelling,
- Stay out of the sun until your skin heals, and
- Wear loose, breathable clothing to prevent irritation.
If your sunburn is severe to the point of blistering or you’re experiencing other symptoms, like nausea, dizziness, fever, headaches or vomiting, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Does moisturiser help the healing process?
Using a moisturising cream or lotion is one of the most common methods that people use to treat sunburn. But before you lather your sunburnt body in moisturiser, it’s important to wait until your skin has cooled off. Otherwise, you risk trapping the heat and causing even more pain and inflammation.
Before applying a moisturiser to your sunburn, take a cool shower or bath to rinse off your skin and soothe the burn. Once your skin has cooled, you can apply moisturiser to the affected area while your skin is still wet. Moisturising lotions can help soothe sunburn by calming irritated skin and keeping moisture in. That said, they won’t stop your skin from peeling.
While there are numerous moisturising products on the market, only a few ingredients have been proven to help to soothe sunburn. It’s not safe to use any old moisturiser on sunburn as some contain harsh chemicals that could further irritate sunburned skin, especially if you suffer from dry or sensitive skin.
So, before you reach for your usual body moisturiser, check the ingredients list and look to see whether it contains Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in maintaining healthy skin by protecting it from damage and promoting healing. Using a moisturiser that’s rich in Vitamin E can help aid recovery, soothe inflammation and replenish your skin’s natural protective barrier.
DU’IT VE+ Vitamin E Face Cream
DU’IT VE+ Vitamin E Face moisturiser is a high potency (120iu/g or 12%) vitamin E face cream, that contains 6 times more vitamin E than that of standard vitamin E cream, providing exceptional moisturising properties for dry skin. It neutralises free radical activity, moisturises dehydrated skin, fine lines and guards against premature skin ageing.
Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory properties, which allow it to protect the skin from sun damage by reducing redness, irritation and inflammation. It can also help prevent premature ageing (like wrinkles and pigmentation) and skin cancer by fighting damage caused by the sun over time.
What is the best Vitamin E product on the market?
DU’IT VE+ Vitamin E Face Cream is a high-potency Vitamin E cream. Formulated with 12% active Vitamin E, our face cream contains 6x more Vitamin E compared to other standard Vitamin E creams on the market.
When it comes to sunburn, the DU’IT VE+ Vitamin E Face Cream works to neutralise free radical activities and protect the skin from further UV damage. The non-greasy texture is easily absorbed into the skin, providing a calming and healing effect targeting skin redness and irritation. Often, skin peeling is an unavoidable part of the healing process post-sunburn. This Vitamin E cream features moisturising benefits that help promote skin cell turnover, repair skin moisture barriers and further soothe irritated skin, speeding up the healing process and leaving your skin supple and soft again. It’s free from parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil and other irritating ingredients, making it a milder skincare option for sensitive, dehydrated and sunburned skin.
“I bought 2 of these recently. One for the glovebox of my car and the other to keep in a handbag. It’s great for deeply moisturising dry skin and calming any type of skin irritation – it helps reduce skin peeling and soreness after sunburn. The texture is thick and there’s none of that drippy watery feel. After applying the cream, you will feel incredibly cooling and healing on your skin.” – Alice, Australia
While sunburn can lead to short-term symptoms like inflammation, redness, pain and swelling, excessive UV exposure can cause more long-term DNA damage. The long-term effects of sun exposure can lead to premature ageing (fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation), permanent discolouration or scarring and an increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. There’s evidence to suggest that Vitamin E and its antioxidant properties, which neutralise harmful molecules and free radicals that UV rays create in the skin.
Probiotics for skin health
Vitamin E isn’t the only skincare ingredient that works wonders for sunburn. Probiotics can also offer a range of skin benefits, especially if you’re suffering from sunburn. Let’s take a look at some of the key advantages of incorporating probiotic skincare into your routine.
The probiotic advantage
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that promote a balanced microbiome. Recent research has extended the benefits of probiotics to skincare, highlighting their potential in restoring and maintaining skin health. Probiotic body lotions contain live cultures of these beneficial bacteria, providing a dual-action approach to sunburn repair and sensitive skin.
Protects against environmental damage
Probiotics act as a natural shield against pollution, UV exposure and toxins. Pollution and UV rays create free radicals. While a healthy amount of free radicals is fine, excess exposure to environmental factors can lead to skin ageing, inflammation and damage. Probiotic skincare boosts antioxidant activity, helping to neutralise these harmful molecules and the effects they have on the skin.
Reduces inflammation and redness
Sunburn-induced inflammation is a key contributor to discomfort and skin damage. Probiotics have been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce the redness and swelling that often come with sunburn. By balancing the immune response, probiotics in body lotion create a soothing effect, providing relief to the damaged skin.
Strengthens and repairs the skin barrier
Topical probiotics support the skin’s natural defence system, making it more resilient to irritants. Not to mention, probiotics also help the skin retain moisture, keeping skin hydrated and healthy, which can be hugely beneficial for sunburnt skin.
UV radiation compromises the skin barrier, leading to increased water loss and greater susceptibility to irritants. Probiotics in body lotions work to restore and strengthen the skin barrier by promoting the production of ceramides and other lipids. This not only aids in retaining moisture but also enhances the skin’s natural defence mechanisms, facilitating the healing process. A probiotic skincare will boost skin health while providing adequate hydration.
Discover Tough Body Probiotic Body Lotion
DU’IT Tough Body Probiotic Lotion is a lightweight body lotion and daily body moisturiser enriched with a powerful combination of probiotics, urea, niacinamide and Vitamin E, plus Australian Kakadu Plum and grape seed oil. This non-greasy formula replenishes and strengthens the skin barrier, reducing inflammation and redness associated with sunburn. Formulated with natural ingredients, it contains no parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil or irritants, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
Incorporating probiotics into your skincare routine will help to restore the skin’s natural barrier, supporting a faster recovery process. The combination of powerful actives found in Tough Body works together to provide much-needed hydration to sun-damaged skin, promoting healing and minimising peeling. Using Tough Body regularly not only relieves the discomfort of sunburn, but also contributes to long-term skin health by supporting a well-balanced and resilient skin microbiome.
DU’IT Tough Body 300g
Reactivate skin radiance with our lightweight body lotion and daily body moisturiser. Tough Body rejuvenates, re-firms and moisturises. It is a non-greasy formula that’s supercharged with a potent combination of moisturising, antioxidant and brightening actives.
While it can be difficult to completely avoid the sun living in Australia, protecting your skin is essential whenever you venture outside. Follow the 5 SunSmart Steps and remember that excess UV exposure can quickly cause damage to your skin. When it’s hot outside, be sure to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. And make sure to stock up on the DU’IT VE+ Vitamin E Face Cream and Tough Body to keep your skin hydrated and support faster healing from sunburn.
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