How to Get Sleep With a Sunburn

Nobody likes sleeping with a sunburn. It feels hot, it can be painful, and it can itch. All of these are reasons it can be difficult to get sleep with a sunburn. Although there isn't a ton of things you can do once you have sunburn, there are a few tips to make sleeping with a sunburn easier.

What is sunburn and why does it happen?

Before we begin talking about ways you can get sleep with a sunburn, it's good to gain an understanding of what a sunburn is exactly. Health experts at the Mayo Clinic describe sunburn as red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. This happens as a result of exposure to too much ultraviolet light from the sun. If the sunburn is severe enough, it can lead to headaches, fever, nausea, and blistered skin. It's no wonder sleeping with a sunburn can be so challenging, but you can make it less of a challenge with these five tips for sleeping with a sunburn.

1. Stay Cool

The first thing you should do when you have a sunburn, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, is to take frequent cool baths or showers. The cool temperatures help relieve pain, and if you're in less pain, you're going to sleep better. Another way to stay cool is to use a cooling mattress to keep your skin cool throughout the night. Using a cooling pillow can work too if your face or ears are sunburned.

2. Moisturize

The next step to sleeping better with a sunburn is to moisturize your skin. It's recommended that you do this right after your cool bath or shower to lock the water in your skin. Using a moisturizer with aloe can help alleviate sunburn symptoms. A study on using aloe to treat sunburns in rodents showed aloe helps reduce inflammation in the skin.

3. Hydrate

Staying properly hydrated after getting a sunburn is another suggestion from the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Drink plenty of water as soon as you notice sunburn symptoms. Sunburns draw fluid to the surface of the skin, which in turn, leaves you puffy and dehydrated. By drinking enough water, you can help your body stay hydrated, and sleep better.

4. Use Soft Fabrics

If you go to bed in any sort of clothes, you're going to want to wear clothes that are loose-fitting and breathable. This will ensure you minimize any skin irritation when your clothes come into contact with your skin. Having soft and breathable sheets is a great way to sleep better with a sunburn.

Choose sheets with natural fibers like cotton, that are more breathable. This will increase the airflow under the covers, and stop your sheets from trapping in heat.

5. Medicate

If your sunburn is bad enough, consider taking medication for sunburns. This can include over-the-counter anti-inflammatory and pain medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen. These types of medicines can help reduce inflammation and pain from sunburns. Topical hydrocortisone is another great choice for treating sunburns.

The best way to sleep with a sunburn is to sleep without one. Try to avoid getting sunburn from the start by limiting sun exposure by applying sunscreen and/or wearing protective clothing. If you do manage to get sunburned, remember these tips above to make sleeping with it a little easier.