How To Sleep When Suffering From A Sunburn

Everyone loves a vacation, but no one appreciates dealing with a sunburn after the fact. Unfortunately, if you choose to go on vacation somewhere where you'll be exposed to loads of sunshine, there's a high probability you'll end up with a sunburn without proper precautions. When you're living in the moment, lathering your skin up in sunscreen isn't always the first thing that comes to mind. Wearing long-sleeved tops or pants made of thick materials isn't usually a vacation vibe, either. 

Sometimes, it's more exciting to let loose and strip down into your bathing suit as soon as possible. Preventing a sunburn might come across as boring and monotonous, but you'll be grateful to yourself for taking preventive measures to avoid the pain of sunburns when falling asleep at night. If that ship has sailed and you're already dealing with a serious sunburn issue, here are a few tips to consider to help you fall asleep peacefully.

Cooling bedsheets will become your best friend while dealing with a sunburn. All sheets aren't created equally, which means it's up to you to do a little research before hopping into bed with your sunburn. Bedsheets made out of polyester should always be avoided since polyester won't do you any favors. It's got a low-quality feel, it offers poor breathability, and it's prone to pilling. To make matters worse, polyester isn't even environmentally friendly. It's a synthetic material made straight out of an ingredient called petroleum. Since petroleum is a nonrenewable resource, it definitely shouldn't be on your shopping list.

Opting for jersey cotton, loosely woven linen, or silk will give you a better chance to fall asleep peacefully. Even without a sunburn, silk is one of the most fabulous fabrics to sleep on since it's hypoallergenic, naturally sourced, non-inflammatory, durable, and incredibly luxurious. Not only will it bring comfort to your sunburned skin, but it will also keep your entire body feeling cooled down.

You don't necessarily need to sit down with a doctor to get a painkiller prescription for a sunburn. Sometimes, all you have to do is visit your local drugstore to find painkillers you can buy over the counter. Many people prefer over-the-counter painkillers since medically prescribed painkillers have a reputation for being wildly addictive. Some of the best over-the-counter painkillers you can purchase include Advil, Motrin, Tylenol, and Excedrin. 

These medications are helpful when it comes to any physical ailment you're suffering from including stomachaches, headaches, muscle aches, and more. When your skin is hurting from a sunburn, though, these over-the-counter medications will do you justice. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging to figure out how many pills or tablets you're supposed to swallow within a certain time frame. The last thing you'd want to do is make yourself sick by improperly taking over-the-counter painkillers while you're already dealing with a sunburn.

Few people will try to argue with you that cold showers are pleasant or enjoyable. By the same token, they are often exactly what's needed in order to feel better with a sunburn. Some people rely on cold showers to snap themselves out of anxiety attacks or to reset their nervous system. Others know that cold showers come in handy to soothe the pain of sunburn. When you're sunburned, your skin gets totally inflamed. 

Cold water from a shower or a bath fights back against that inflammation in a significant way. You might have to brace yourself for a couple of minutes before dunking your body into a cold shower or a bath, but keep in mind that it will be worth it once all is said and done.

Cold showers and baths don't need to become a regular thing after the skin on your body has returned to normal. They are simply something to consider if you want to experience relief before falling asleep at night.

It's easy to believe that pressing chunks of ice directly to your sunburned skin is the quickest way to solve your issue, but that would be a huge mistake. Pressing chunks of ice to your sunburn will cause vasoconstriction, which means the blood supply headed toward your broken skin will be abruptly cut off. Instead, opt for cold compresses that provide just as much soothing effects. In fact, cold compresses will probably soothe your skin more than solid chunks of ice since the feeling won't be so sharp or intense. 

Find a clean towel and dampen it with cold water. Press the cold compress on your sunburned skin for about 10 minutes at a time, multiple times throughout the day. Every time you feel a flare-up of pain, rely on this method to get some relief. If cold compresses don't feel like enough, sit in a bathtub filled with water and about 2 ounces of baking soda for 10 minutes at a time to achieve a similar feeling.

Alcohol is the last thing to be drinking while suffering from sunburn. Despite how much fun you could have throwing back a couple of shots with your friends, skipping alcohol while you're sunburned will benefit you greatly. Unfortunately, alcohol is known to dehydrate you and make your sunburn feel much worse. Since alcohol has been linked to other health issues like heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, and high blood pressure, it already doesn't have the best reputation ever. 

While you might not be worried about any of these other super serious health conditions, healing from your sunburn should be reason enough to take a break from alcohol.

Interestingly, caffeine is also something you might want to take a break from while dealing with your sunburn. Just like alcohol, it can dehydrate you and make your skin feel absolutely terrible. Alcohol and caffeine don't have to be off-limits forever, but it's perfectly fine to put them on the back burner until your skin feels healthy again.

Essential oils have a great reputation for improving your health and mood. They've been mainstream for a while, helping increase attentiveness, kill bacteria, and reduce nausea. They're even known to help relieve the pain of a headache. Unfortunately, essential oils aren't exactly helpful when it comes to sunburn, though. Dabbing essential oils directly on your sunburned skin will lead to more irritation than before. They can also increase the sensitivity of your skin. 

Next time you're exposed to the sun, keep in mind that essential oils aren't the only fragranced liquid you should keep away from sunburned skin. Most colognes and perfumes are also a no-go. Since colognes and perfumes typically contain alcohol as a main ingredient, they'll dry out your skin.

Anything that irritates and dries out your skin should be avoided while you're sunburned. Allow essential oils to gently mist through the air of your bedroom while you sleep, but try not to dab any of those oils directly on the surfaces of your sunburned skin.

People who deal with insomnia on a nightly basis already know how you feel if you're struggling to fall asleep with sunburned skin. Although your reasons for struggling to fall asleep are much different than an individual with old-fashioned insomnia, you can handle your sleep routine in a similar way as an insomniac to get the rest you desire.

One of the smartest tips to follow when fighting insomnia includes shutting off your technology about an hour before bed. This means tucking away your tablets, cell phones, and anything that emits blue light. 

Another tip revolves around your exercise routine. Make sure you aren't exercising too close to bedtime so your body has a chance to calm down and relax for restful sleep. Your workout should be at least one hour before you lay your head down. Using a white noise app or machine will also come in handy in helping you finally get to bed.