How to get the glow back into your sunburnt skin

Is it possible to reverse the effects of sunburn? Photo / iStock.

We may only be in the first few days of Spring but sunburn can occur in as little as 20 minutes and can take up to six hours to show up, so it's easy to be burnt without realising.

This is actually classed as a first degree burn, and is also the single biggest risk factor in the development of skin cancer. We all know this - but still we get caught out.

So if you do find yourself resembling a lobster at the end of the day, is it possible to undo at least some of the harm? We asked the experts...

Buy an anti-wrinkle cream

Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is arguably the most scientifically proven ingredient for repairing sun-damaged skin once a burn has subsided, although it cannot reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Prescription creams such as Retin A (tretinoin) contain retinoic acid, while over-the-counter products, mostly marketed as anti-wrinkle creams, are converted into retinoic acid by the skin, so it may take slightly longer to see results with these.

First, have a drink or two

... not alcohol. Drink water. By the time you feel the pain and notice the redness you'll have already harmed the DNA in your skin cells, raising your chances of premature ageing and skin cancer. The burn itself is easy to treat: "Drink lots of water," says Professor Stanley Bleehen of the British Skin Foundation. "The key is to rehydrate."

Avoid the grease

Dr Anjali Mahto, dermatologist and spokesman for the British Skin Foundation, says the NHS advice to smear on Vaseline is unwise. "Using a really thick, greasy or oily product will trap the heat on the skin," she says. Using an unperfumed, easily absorbed emollient after a cool bath is best - keep this up for a few days.

Bin the old lotions

In emergencies, you may be tempted to dig out that ancient bottle of calamine lotion. But beware: although they contain preservative, bacteria can grow in all cosmetics, including aftersun lotions. It might seem unlikely, but if harmful bacteria is applied to damaged skin then it is possible to develop an infection of the skin.

Try tooth gel

Research has shown topical anaesthetic such as benzocaine, found in over-the-counter toothache gels, is effective at stopping the pain of sunburn.

However, steroid-type medicines like hydrocortisone creams, which dampen inflammation, may do little for sunburn. A newer product, Soleve, contains ibuprofen gel and has shown promise.

Pop an aspirin

As long as you don't suffer from stomach problems such as ulcers, take an anti-inflammatory such as an aspirin or ibuprofen, says Dr Mahto. "This will help relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation causing the redness. They should be continued for 48 hours if there are no problems."

Try tomato pills

Antioxidants are attracting a lot of attention for their ability to protect against and maybe reverse sun damage. These molecules, especially found in fruit and vegetables, help to protect cells against damage from free radicals caused by UV rays. A 2008 study published in the journal Biofactors found that coenzyme Q10 cream, containing lycopene which is found in tomatoes, reduced wrinkles, and may protect the skin from ageing.

Rub on red wine

Studies suggest that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine and raspberries, may act on free radicals and prevent skin ageing, according to US researchers writing in the journal Nature.

Drink green tea

Green tea contains high levels of antioxidants called catechins which, researchers have found, provide some protection against inflammation from the sun's rays.

When to seek help

Severe sunburn can lead to blistering of the skin - a second-degree burn. This means the damage is deep into the skin tissues and is usually very painful. Do not break blisters, as they protect the damaged skin. If a child is burned over more than 20 per cent of their body, call a doctor. If sunburn is accompanied by a high fever, extreme pain, headache, confusion, nausea or chills it could be heatstroke - a medical emergency.

- Daily Mail