Fast Sunburn Relief
By Timothy Sexton
A common side effect of too much golf is the sunburn. Few things can put a damper on a great game more quickly than skin that is painful to the touch. A series of treatments that attack certain aspects of the discomfort of sunburn will help alleviate the pain and get you back to swinging.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Anticipate the sunburn before it becomes too bad. Take 650 milligrams of aspirin before you start to notice any reddening of your skin. Getting a jump on the sunburn before it becomes too painful is the single best thing you can do.
Rinse the affected area with cold water. If you are on the golf course and can't reach the sunburned area with cold water, grab some ice cubes from the clubhouse and cover them with a rag or paper towels. Hold it onto the burned area for 10 to 15 minutes.
Apply an over-the-counter anesthetic that can relieve both the pain and the associated itching. Make sure the cream or gel contains benzocaine, benzyl alcohol, or lidocaine. If the sunburn is around your eyes or mouth, be very careful in applying any kind of anesthetic cream.
Refrain from drinking any alcohol when you begin to feel the pain of a sunburn. In fact, if you know you are going to be in the sun and therefore at risk for a sunburn, it is a good idea to keep the drinks away. Alcohol causes dehydration of the skin which can increase the potential for the sunburn developing blisters. Instead, be sure to drink plenty of water to make sure you are properly hydrated.
About The Author
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning author who started writing in 1994. He has written on topics ranging from politics and golf to nutrition and travel, and his work appears online for Zappos.com, Disaboom, USAToday.com and MOJO, among others. He has also done work for "Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of West Florida.
