What to do if your skin itches after sun exposure? Should you wash your face after sun exposure?

I finally have a holiday, so of course I have to go out and have some fun. But when I came back at night, I found that the places that were exposed to the sun were very itchy, and no matter how I scratched, it didn’t help. What should I do?

What to do if your skin itches after sun exposure

If your skin becomes itchy after being exposed to sunlight, this may be a case of solar allergy. In this case, patients can first take antihistamines orally, such as loratadine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, ebastine tablets, and fexofenadine. Generally, one of these drugs can be taken orally to effectively relieve the itchy skin. For some patients with severe local itching and obvious blisters or papules, they can apply glucocorticoid ointment and calamine lotion externally at the same time. Triamcinolone ointment, dexamethasone ointment, and hydrocortisone ointment are also options. If the patient's skin is not only itchy but also accompanied by obvious redness, swelling and stinging, you can also apply saline solution for wet compresses. Freezing the saline solution for a certain period of time before applying the wet compress can also significantly relieve the itchy skin.

Why does it itch after sun exposure?

The itchy symptoms after the skin is exposed to the sun are caused by allergies, and are also related to the long-term exposure of the skin surface to ultraviolet radiation, causing damage to the skin surface.

The skin will become itchy, painful, peeling, red and swollen after being exposed to the sun, and needs to be treated with antihistamines. It is recommended to take sun protection measures when going out, such as applying sunscreen.

Should I wash my face after sun exposure?

Don't wash your face immediately after being in the sun. If you wash your face with hot water directly after sun exposure, the blood vessels will continue to become congested. Washing your face with cold water will cause the blood vessels to suddenly contract, which is not good for the skin. Wait until the skin drops to normal temperature before washing your face with wet water. It is best to use a facial cleanser that contains moisturizing and heat-retaining ingredients such as milk and honey. After cleansing, you can apply some skin care products containing more moisture on your face. When applying, don’t forget to apply some on your neck as well.

Should I apply a facial mask after sun exposure?

You can apply a hydrating and calming mask.

After being exposed to the sun, the skin on your face will become extremely dehydrated and accompanied by inflammatory reactions, such as redness, swelling and burning pain. At this time, applying a hydrating and soothing mask can quickly replenish water and help repair the damaged stratum corneum.

However, facial masks for whitening and removing spots are generally acidic, which will increase allergy factors and cause skin rashes after application. Deep cleansing mud masks often soften cuticles and can aggravate skin damage. Therefore, it is best not to apply other types of masks except hydrating and calming masks.