How to Treat Wind Burns

The word "windburn" refers to the skin's red appearance, caused by high winds depleting moisture from your exposed hands, face or neck. It leaves the skin surface cracked, dry, irritated and tender. Mimicking the same symptoms as a sunburn, which it sometimes is mistaken for, windburn requires basically the same treatment. Leaving your skin untreated may lengthen the time it takes to heal. Saturate the windburned areas with moisturizing soaps and lotions to ease redness and irritation and restore your skin to its natural hue.

Things You'll Need

• Moisturizing soap
• Moisturizing lotion with aloe
• Petroleum jelly
• Over-the-counter pain medication

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the windburned area with a moisturizing soap. Avoid using antibacterial soaps as they may irritate tender skin. Wet your hands and create a lather with the soap. Lightly rub the lather onto the windburned areas. Rinse the soap with cool water. Refrain from using hot or warm water because this further depletes skin of moisture. Dry the area by patting gently with a bath towel.

• 2

  Rub a moisturizing lotion gently and generously on the wind burns. Allow the moisturizer to soak into the skin. Look for lotions containing aloe that not only moisturize skin, but contain healing properties.

• 3

  Cover the windburned areas with petroleum jelly. Rub the jelly gently over the windburns and try not to pull the skin too hard as you apply it. The greasy substance restores oil to your skin, while adding a protective layer.

• 4

  Take an over-the-counter pain medication to remove the sting from wind burns. Use the medication as directed on the container.

• 5

  Elevate your hands or feet to alleviate swelling caused by windburn. Sit in a lounge chair or sofa with a pillow under your feet. Sit in a chair and place cushions under your arms.