Home LivingWellnessSleep7 tips to help you sleep better with a sunburnFrom soft pyjamas to cold compresses, here’s how to get a good night’s sleep with a sunburnWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingWellnessSleep7 tips to help you sleep better with a sunburnFrom soft pyjamas to cold compresses, here’s how to get a good night’s sleep with a sunburnWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
From soft pyjamas to cold compresses, here’s how to get a good night’s sleep with a sunburn
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Philippe Murray-Pietsch / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Philippe Murray-Pietsch / Unsplash)
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the UK has been experiencing a bit of a heatwave. While you’re out basking in the sunny weather, it’s always important to apply sun cream to keep your skin healthy and protected, otherwise you could experience an ever-dreaded sunburn.
Despite it being quite funny to see your friend’s arm looking like a Drumstick Squashie (look it up!), sunburn is no joke. Not only is it painful and unattractive, but it can cause skin damage and lead to more serious issues like skin cancer. Sunburn can also be extremely uncomfortable when you’re trying to sleep, as it takes between four to six hours for sunburn and its symptoms to fully develop.
Sunburn might feel worse at night for a number of reasons. Aside from developing symptoms, the pain of sunburn can feel more intense when you’re lying down on thebest mattressand when your skin comes into contact with your bedding. So, if you’ve neglected to put on your sun cream or the one you picked was too weak a factor for your skin, here are seven tips to help you sleep with a sunburn.
1. Take a cool shower or use a cold compress
2. Apply soothing creams
To treat sunburn, you need to keep your skin moisturised to soothe the pain and help your body to recover. After your cold shower, apply creams like aftersun, aloe vera or moisturiser to the affected area to take care of your skin and avoid blisters. There are many creams on the market that can help treat sunburn, including hydrocortisone (steroid) creams, but you should consult your doctor or a pharmacist before you use these.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Lyubov Levitskaya)
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Lyubov Levitskaya)
3. Wear loose fitting clothes
The main reason sleeping with sunburn is so uncomfortable is because there’s excess material in your sleep set-up that can rub against your skin. I’ll get on to bedding in the next tip, but for nightwear, stick to loose fitting clothes so nothing rubs too harshly or close to your skin. Not only is it painful, but the friction can damage your skin further. Looser clothing is more comfortable and sensitive to your skin, and materials like silk or cotton are light and breathable (check out the5 best cooling fabrics for a heatwavefor more).
4. Switch to silk, bamboo or cotton bedding
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5. Stay hydrated
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
6. Adjust your bedroom temperature
As I explained above, your body’s temperature rises when you have sunburn, so to help counter this issue, you can adjust your bedroom temperature. Experts have found thatsleeping in a cold room is better for you, as it helps lower your body temperature to help you fall asleep faster, plus it can speed up your metabolism and reduce stress. Try opening your windows to welcome in a cooling breeze or turning on yourbest fanto cool you and your room down before you go to sleep.
7. Take pain medications for painful burns
If your sunburn is particularly excruciating or you’ve got blisters, taking paracetamol or other painkillers can help ease the pain. But remember to go to your doctor if your sunburn treatment routine isn’t working and you’re experiencing symptoms like lightheadedness, a fever, nausea and extreme pain and blisters.
For more sun cream tips, here’s5 reasons you should use sunscreen every day.
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