The 4 dangerous sunburn hacks you must NEVER try – and what really works | The Sun

SUMMER is well and truly here and a heatwave is set to bake Brits this weekend.

While we all love nothing more than a golden tan, it's important to protect your skin and avoid burning.

If you've spent too long in the sun this weekend, it's likely you'll be looking a little pink.

But experts have warned against following social media trends when it comes to treating your sunburn.

It's important that as temperatures rise you protect yourself with adequate sun protection such as sunscreen and hats.

Sunburn can be extremely painful and result in tenderness, blisters, swelling and even headaches, nausea and fatigue.

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According to Melanoma UK, it only takes one blistering sunburn to double a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life, with 90 percent thought to be caused by exposure to sun and UV light.

Victoria Evans, Education Manager at Dermalogica said: "Sunburn is caused by exposure to UVB radiation and burning can take place in as little as 5-10 minutes.

"The face, neck and trunk are two to four times more sensitive than the limbs and will burn more readily.

"It’s important to note that all skins can burn and you should wear SPF consistently to prevent this.”

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Experts have slammed dangerous sunburn hacks doing the roundsand say more care needs to be taken when it comes to sun protection.

Here's some of the strangest hacks and why they are dangerous.

1. Mouthwash

Mouthwash is usually used to prevent gum disease and leave your mouth feeling minty fresh, but not for some TikTokers.

One revealed she fills a spray bottle with mouthwash and sprays it directly on her sunburn to calm the sting.

Stephanie Taylor, Health and Wellbeing Expert at StressNoMore said: "This is a very bizarre and extreme way to relieve the pain of sunburn and is absolutely not a fail-safe method.

"While the menthol or eucalyptol in the mint flavours may have cooling properties, it's the 26.9 percent alcohol content in the original flavour, plus ingredients such as benzoic acid, that are problematic."

Victoria added that in general, it's best to avoid menthol based products.

2. Sour cream

This might seem like a great idea due to the lactic acid in the product – but experts say there are better ways to treat the burn.

One TikToker instructs others to spread it all over their sunburn and leave it on for an hour to eliminate all traces of sunburn.

Stephanie said: "For sunburn, it's best to stick to traditional products containing ingredients that soothe and relieve pain caused by sunburns such as aloe vera, coconut oil or soy-based moisturisers and keep hydrated.

"You can even put your after sun or moisturiser in the fridge for that cool hit."

Sun soothers: What to do if you have sunburn

You’ve slathered on the SPF, put your best straw hat on and you’ve still managed to get burnt.

As Stephanie states there are things you can do if you've gotten burnt in the sun and here are some remedies.

LloydsPharmacy Pharmacist Anshu Kaura said taking care of your skin after you've been in the sun should be a vital element of your routine.

"Using an aftersun or a rich moisturiser will help reduce and prevent sun damage whilst re-hydrating dry, damaged skin.

"You should use after sun after any sun exposure, whether you have signs of damage or not", Anshu said.

Here are some tips for coping if you're burnt:

• Use products with aloe vera which will naturally cool stressed skin
• Use high moisturising products and as anti-reddening lotion
• Take a cold shower – this will provide instant relief
• Drink plenty of water to keep dehydration at bay
• Wear clothes that cover your burnt bits
• Make sure the sunlight isn't hitting your skin through windows – try closing the blinds

3. White vinegar

Stephanie said you should "absolutely NOT" use white vinegar on your skin.

"Vinegar has extremely high acidity and PH levels of around 2 or 3.

"By putting undiluted vinegar on your skin, it can damage the skin's fragile barrier and result in more pain and inflammation, plus potential chemical burns if exposed to bare skin for too long."

4. Sun contouring

Sun contouring has previously be criticised as it leaves your skin exposed to the sun.

The trend is to use sunscreen like makeup to contour your face.

Stephanie said this is incredibly dangerous for your skin.

She said: "While this may have some short-term effects for facial tanning, the long-term effects could be dangerous and result in skin damage, early signs of ageing or even skin cancer.

"In the summer, apply SPF 50 sun cream or moisturiser to your face every day to protect your skin from sun damage.

"This won't prevent you from tanning but could prevent long-lasting and irreversible skin damage."

Staying safe in the sun

Skin types vary from person to person, but when it comes to protection, using the right SPF for you is key.

LloydsPharmacy pharmacist Pareena Patel explains the difference in skin types and how UV exposure can affect us differently.

Pareena explains: “People with lighter skin tones are much more likely to experience skin damage from UV rays and are more prone to getting skin cancer as a result of sun exposure.

Sunburn damages your skin and can lead to cancer, experts warn

While it’s important to have fun in the sun, you also need to be mindful of how dangerous the sun is for our skin.

Prof. Jonathan Roos and Dr Rachna Murthy, founders of FaceRestoration say each case of sunburn has potential to increase our risk of skin cancer, and it is important to understand that it’s not only big days by the sea that can cause damage.

They state: "Risk builds incrementally with each exposure to UV rays, so it’s necessary to be sun savvy in daily life – when travelling to work, walking the dog, picking up your post – whenever you’re outside.

"It's essential to wear sun protection every day(even when it’s cloudy), this healthy habit reduces probability of the damage that can lead to skin cancer."

In situations where you may be unsure about the amount of SPF to use or when it may have worn off and needs replenishing, physical sun blockage can be sourced from hats, sunglasses and UV proof clothing, the experts say.

They also suggest staying in the shade during peak sunshine hours from 10am –3pm.

"Sun exposure can cause the skin to become dry and lose moisture as well as essential oils, resulting in flaky and prematurely wrinkled skin.

"Following sunburn the skin becomes red and if severely burnt can develop fluid filled vesicles or blister. With prolonged sun exposure, the skin can be permanently damaged as patches of actinic keratosis, that feel like sandpaper.

"This can be a warning sign of increased risk of skin cancer", they added.

"However, people with darker skin of every ethnicity aren’t exempt from the damaging effect of the sun’s UV rays .

“People with darker skin usually have higher levels of pigments in their skin, known as melanin."

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Melanin is a substance which causes your skin to tan and plays a role in blocking UV rays.

"There is a limit to how much melanin can protect the skin against UV rays, and so people of all skin tones should wear SPF", Pareena added.

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