Beat the Burn: Essential Sunburn Relief for Michigan Summers

Summer doesn't officially arrive until June 20th, but already there have been plenty of sunny days, which are nice to enjoy after a cold, dark winter.

But while we want to soak up as much sun as possible, it's really important that we don't get too much and end up sunburned.

Get our free mobile app

If you're like me and more often than not get burned, then you should pay attention because while a sunburn may not seem terrible at the time, depending on its severity, it can lead to long-term problems.

What Is A Sunburn?

We all know that when we've been out in the sun too long, our skin can turn red and get very hot and start to hurt, but what actually happens when we get a sunburn?

A sunburn is caused when UV radiation from the sun or other sources damages our skin's DNA.

This damage triggers a series of events, including redness, swelling, pain, and potentially blisters and peeling skin.

Different Types of Sunburns

There are actually three degrees of sunburn.

The severity of a sunburn depends on the amount of UV exposure, with first-degree burns affecting the outer layer, second-degree burns damaging deeper layers, and third-degree burns reaching the deepest layers.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

How To Protect Yourself From Sunburn

There are several steps you can take to try to avoid or reduce the severity of getting a sunburn.

Avoid the sun during peak hours: Between 10 am - 4 pm, this is when the rays are the strongest and most likely to give you a sunburn.

Use sunscreen: You might not get a great tan, but the higher the SPF, the better it works at blocking the sun's harmful UVB rays.

Wear protective clothing: Covering your skin can help; make sure you wear sunglasses, a hat, and tightly woven clothing that is loose-fitting to protect your skin.

Even if you follow most of these suggestions, there is always a chance that you could still get sunburned.

That is why you should take the following steps to help aid in your skin healing after being burned.