Sunburned Lip Care

A sunburn occurs when your skin is exposed too long to the sun’s damaging rays. If you suffer from a sunburn on your lip, it may be uncomfortable to eat, drink or talk. Fortunately, most sunburns are mild, and your lips will heal themselves, with a little help, within a few days. Applying a lip balm that contains a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 15 can help protect your lips from becoming dry, cracked or sunburned.

Instructions

• 1

  Apply a cool compress to your lips to reduce the heat from the burn. A compress is a wet washcloth or other soft cloth. It is important to use a cool, but not cold, compress because sunburned lips are fragile, and you do not want to damage them further by applying a very cold cloth.

• 2

  Use an aloe vera lotion or lip balm on your lips. Aloe vera is a natural plant extract that soothes sunburned skin while restoring moisture to it. Apply the aloe vera in a thin layer as often as you can but at least a few times a day, especially before you go to sleep at night.

• 3

  Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve within a few days. Most burns are first-degree burns that heal within a week. However, if you suffer from a second-degree burn, or your burn is not healing, notify your doctor immediately. In addition, if you have a fever or chills, you may be experiencing heat exhaustion, and you should seek immediate medical assistance.