BAD Sunburn!

Brandylyn

I need suggestions for sunburn remedies please!  I'm 13 weeks pregnant and have one of the worst sunburns I've ever had.  I was in the sun for 3 hours but I put sunscreen on at least 3 times.  I stayed hydrated the whole time and was in the pool most of the time so I didn't get overheated (Outside temp was only 73 degrees).  Anyway, my shoulders, arms, and chest are really sunburned.  I read that pregnant women are not supposed to use aloe with lidocaine in it.  So what can I use?  It hurts really bad and I work so I have to wear clothes which make it worse.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 Also, side note, is it true that pregnancy can make your skin ultra sensitive to the sun?  If this is the case I'm going to keep covered from head to toe the rest of this pregnancy.  This is horrible!

iluvmylab

Yes, your skin can be more sensivite during pregnancy.  Solarcaine is the only thing that really works for me.

ETA:  Not sure about using it during pregnancy, you'd have to check the label.

jmd22

Ouch Try just using 100% aloe vera without the lidocaine, and maybe some Tylenol for the pain. 

I have heard that pregnancy makes your skin more sensitive, but I have not yet experienced that yet.... 

c&n06

wow this is good to know! I had a bad sunburn from the beach last week and I could not understand it b/c I reapplied suncreen. My legs are still red. I even returned the sunscreen. Now I know why.

spacedolphin11

Lidocaine is in pregnancy category B, which means:

Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women OR Animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in any trimester. (wiki)

You can definitely get aloe vera gel without lidocaine in it, or you can just get an aloe plant, cut a leaf, and rub it straight on you.

And yes, your skin is EXTRA EXTRA sensitive during pregnancy. Use your SPF 30-50 sunscreen (a lot) and cover up! (This from an extremely fair girl who has already sunburned in the shade... I need to practice what I preach, lol.) 

Summer0715

Funny you write this because I was going to post something along these lines.  I was out in the sun this weekend and used the same sunblock I always used.  I got a burn on Friday late afternoon so went and bought new sunblock thinking mine had expired or I needed an increased SPF.  I had on a hat, sunglasses and the new sunblock and still managed a great burn after only 2 hours.

I wondered if pregnancy makes skin more sensitive to sun . . . . I am using aloe as well as cool showers to deal with the pain.  Thank goodness its just my face and the side of my neck - everything else I kept covered.

DaisyKD

I was at a baseball game in April and was out in the sun for about 2-3 hours.  It was cold and breezy, but sunny.  I got a crazy burn on my nose and cheeks.  No one else in my group got burned.

I figured it was from being pregnant that I must be more sensitive 

Brandylyn

Thanks all!  I actually just took a bath in cold water and cider vinegar.  I found this on babycenter.com.  Thought it sounded crazy but I'm in so much pain I'll try anything.  It seems to have worked to at least reduce the pain.  If nothing else it felt good to soak on cold water. 

angnowamrs

This sounds really weird, but bath in a tub with a good deal of white vinegar. It will actually help to decrease your burn. Some people rub it directly, but I always find that too painful. Make sure you are still using the aloe to keep your skin moisturized after the bath/rub.

L8ebugs

I was in the sun all weekend. I used sunblock for babies, spf 50+ (supposedly there are ingredients in normal sunblock that could be bad for pregnant women but baby ones should be ok). I re-applied like crazy and didn't get any sunburn, which is actually unusual for me because I always miss a spot somewhere or don't apply enough and end up with a terrible sunburn on some spot. 

1) apply before going out in the sun and before putting the swimsuit/clothes on to make sure under straps are covered too.

2) apply again once you get out in the sun

3) re-apply every time you get out of the water

4) If you're not in the water re-apply every hour or so.

It seems ridiculous, and I literally used more than 1/2 a bottle of sunblock in one beach weekend, but it worked for me! 

 

I hope your sunburn fades quickly, I've been there before