# What to do when your entire back is red because of a sunburn **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832 "2002-05-25T21:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/1 "2002-05-25T21:02:34Z")
Beach weekend is over for me and I have a problem. Last night I overimbibed potent potables and slept on the beach instead of in my tent. Now large areas of my backside, with few skin-colored areas from my neck to my feet except for my swimsuit area, is the color of a stop sign. Covering the enitre area in lotion is a bit tough, and you can only spend so much time in the bath. What do you do when you’re in this condition? ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/2 "2002-05-25T21:22:59Z")
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes. Take a couple of tylenol every 4 to 6 hours. Anything with aloe will provide some relief and possibly speed your recovery. I have used Solarcain and it gives some relief. I wouldn’t mix any lotions or sprays. You will probably be OK in a couple of days, til then there isn’t a lot that can be done. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/3 "2002-05-25T21:25:46Z")
See if you can persuade a kind soul to spread a thick layer of aloe vera gel on your affected parts. You’re going to have to suffer a while until your back peels and new skin appears underneath. Make sure you drink plenty of water (don’t mix it with vodka) to stay hydrated. Take a few aspirin or tylenol ( whatever your choice of painkiller) and lay off the booze for a while. Alcohol dehydrates you and makes you feel awful. Good Luck. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/4 "2002-05-25T21:30:05Z")
I would take aspirin over Tylenol or its equivalent. Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, get someone to give you a cool water sponge bath on your back every so often, and sleep on your stomach. Some of the pain is caused by just plain exposure to the air, but I recommend _against_ any lotion and/or oil-based salve for relief of any kind. It’s a two-edged sword because exposure to air is just what your skin needs to rest and heal. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/5 "2002-05-25T22:20:13Z")
Sorry, I don’t have much advice, other than LOTS of water. I’d also suggest a water-based aloe vera spray if you can find one (I can’t remember the names of any). You have my sympathy. A bad sunburn is one of the most unpleasant things I’ve ever been through. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/6 "2002-05-25T23:20:55Z")
Cool bath with aloe in it helps. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/7 "2002-05-26T01:45:03Z")
If you have a person who will apply the aloe vera, before they do that, have them _lightly_ sponge on some common table vinegar to remove the immediate sting. (It won’t prevent the long-term heat sensation, but it will take the sting right out.) ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/8 "2002-05-26T04:33:56Z")
For the love of God, prepare NOW for the insane, holy SHIT holy SHIT HOLY SHITSHITSHITSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!! itch that is going to strike in a few days (at least, that’s what happens to me with severe sunburns). The itching, IIRC, is caused by the damaged skin nerves repairing themselves. Unfortunately, the burn still hurts at the same time the itch sets in, so it’s overall miserable. Only thing that felt good for me was the water from the shower head…only thing that has seemed to help _prevent_ it is what many have suggested here: saturating the skin with aloe. Hoping you don’t go through the insanity I did a few years ago (it was one of my old AOL SDMB threads, in fact)… ---
**Author:** ![Omnivore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e47774/32.png) [@Omnivore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnivore)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/9 "2002-05-26T04:47:17Z")
If you have access to the real Aloe Vera plant, split some of the leafs and rub the sticky sap over the burn. It will ease the pain within minutes and help promote quick healing. Within minutes, it will absorb into the skin and be dry, but the effects will continue. It might even help enough so you do not peel much later. ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/10 "2002-05-26T05:13:30Z")
Grind some oatmeal very fine and add it to a lukewarm bath - it will help with the itching. I second/third LOTS OF WATER!! ---
**Author:** ![Tokes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tokes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokes)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/11 "2002-05-26T05:47:51Z")
All I can suggest is crack open a couple of eggs and fry em up on your back while its still red hot! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/12 "2002-05-26T16:14:52Z")
Whenever I get a bad sunburn, I apply cold cream. You can get it in large tubs at your local drugstore. Later after washing it off, I leave cold washcloths on the affected area. If you can stand it, wet a washcloth or small towel and put it in the freezer for half an hour or so. It feels wonderful and should help mask some of the pain. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/13 "2002-05-26T17:59:50Z")
Day 2 update (sorta gross): Skin is definitely starting to peel off, and my back feels raw. My lovely mother has been applying aloe vera and I’ve been taking advil, so the pain isn’t that bad, but the itching remains to a certain degree. Thanks for the advice so far. ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/14 "2002-05-26T22:03:35Z")
That happened to me once. I was definitely confined to my house for the few days that it was really bad. It felt like somebody was occasionally jabbing light itchy needles at random spots on my back. The thing that I found helped the most was just laying on my stomach, facing a TV, and remaining completely motionless. If I resisted the itch for a while it seemed to calm itself down. As an added bonus I would often fall asleep from the stillness. ---
**Author:** ![Balor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@Balor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balor)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-when-your-entire-back-is-red-because-of-a-sunburn/110832/15 "2002-05-27T12:02:45Z")
Aloe is good. I used fresh-cut aloe plant on Jamaica, and relief was quick. However, if you can’t get aloe, use PLAIN WHITE YOGURT for severe sunburn. I was introduced to it by a pharmacist. Contrary to vicious rumours, we do have hot sunny days in Ireland, and a friend fell asleep and was severely burnt. The pharmacist said she could supply many creams etc., but we should not waste our money on them. Instead, we should go to the supermarket across the road, and buy a big tub of plain white, unflavoured yogurt. It would cost one-tenth the price and it would be twice as effective. The plain yogurt worked beautifully. I don’t know why. Since then, I have used it on many ocasions, and I recommend it to you. I stressed PLAIN WHITE yogurt, not fruit flavoured. - I suspect fruit acids will not be good burned skin.