The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Sarah Marshal
Taking care of your skin after excessive sun exposure is incredibly important, as failing to do so could lead to long-lasting damage.
However, if your first course of action after sustaining a sunburn is to immediately buy and apply after-sun, then you may not be doing an adequate job.
According to the experts, applying after-sun could do your skin even further harm if you don’t take a thorough look at the ingredients.
That’s why it may be a wise idea to opt for an aloe vera gel instead.
“After-sun formulas tend to have rich, thick consistencies containing oils, which create an emollient barrier on top of the skin trapping in the heat in the upper layer of the epidermis and exacerbating the inflammation and ‘burn’ feeling on your face,” Michaella Bolder, Time Bomb skincare expert tells.
“Plus, many over the counter after-suns will contain chemicals and/or fragrance. This will just irritate the damaged skin!”
Aloe vera has been highly regarded for a very long time due to its remedial properties, Lorraine Shrivener, director of Eden Skin Clinics, explains.
“Aloe vera has been a trusted skin saviour for many years,” she says. “With its immediate cooling effect to the skin, it’s a firm favourite for post-suncare.”
According to Shrivener, aloe vera is most potent when attained as a pure, clear gel.
While gels allow heat to escape from the skin, thicker creams that have been designed to lock in moisture could trap heat within the skin, making it feel cooler rather than hotter.
However, as medical director of CosmedicsUK and GP Dr Ross Perry points out, the medicinal properties of aloe vera have not technically been affirmed by scientific research.
“Aloe vera is a traditional herbal remedy believed to reduce sunburn symptoms,” he explains.
