[sidony]

Okay so on my recent beach trip, I got distracted midway through putting on my sunblock and missed most of one shin. And here I'm someone who prides myself on never getting a sunburn! I'm very fair-skinned so that the part I burned looks pretty bad, ugly and red -- one long stupid-looking stripe on one leg. I've been putting moisturizers on it and just bought some Solarcaine because it was really itching. But it mostly bugs me because it looks so ugly and I want to wear skirts and stuff (which I'm doing but feel really self-conscious about it).

How long do you guys think it will take to go away? And would it be safe to use makeup to cover it? I'm wondering if I can use some of that spray-stocking stuff to even out the color of my legs.

I swore I would never get another sunburn. I use so much sunblock that I barely even tan. So I'm terribly angry with myself about this mistake. Incidentally this led to a discussion of my own perfectionism and unrealistic self-standards in therapy yesterday: I'd feel bad for anyone else who got a sunburn, but for me I think I'm disgusting and impossibly stupid for having done so. And I get all that about myself and maybe I can get better about it. But I still want to fix my leg.

Sidony

[January]

Hi Sidony,

It will tke at least a week. Don't put makeup on it before it's truly healed. You might get it infected.

Hugs,

Jan

[InACorner]

i know how you feel (gentle hugs)

i am very very pale...people call me really white lol....it is literally impossbile for me to tan for some reason...one time i was like 10 or 11 and i was on a boat in florida wearing a bikini (i was priveleged at that time to wear one lol) well with the water and i forgot the sunblock with me...it got so bad i had blisters all over me and had to walk around almost naked in a tiny room cuz clothes hurt so bad...it really sucked....so i know how ya feel...just get some sunburn lotion...you know the gel....and drink lots of water....go figure...even after a day or two your sunburn still dehydrates you.....and let it air out ....give it some breathing room

Noxema. Put noxema on it if you haven't already. Noxema feels soooooo good!

Yaza.. sunburn's can hurt.. I have redhead skin... very, very fair... so I can't tan... and there isn't sunblock strong enough..

your burn may get worse before it gets better... air it..cause it is a burn.. and stay well hydrated... cause even if it is just a "strip" of burn it can affect you overall...

sending healing thoughts ... freewill

apple cider vinegar has helped me a lot. soak a cloth in it and leave it for an hours. it really helped the pain and i think it healed quicker.

[sidony]

Hey thanks everybody!

And Inacorner, I'm sorry to hear about the awful burn you had that time. That sounds terrible.

I'll have to try some of the other pain options you guys have mentioned. Hadn't heard of those! As of yesterday the itching is making me nuts.

I am keeping it uncovered though I'm horribly self-conscious about it. :-(

Sidony