Extra Crispy

Most everyone enjoys a crispy something. Extra crispy potato chips and fried chicken are just the ticket. (I love a crispy bit of chicken skin.) One of my favorite things to eat is crispy bread crust, especially when it is garlicky. YUM! I especially enjoy a thin, crisp cookie. Can someone say, 'Got milk?' But, today's post is not about something "extra crispy" to eat. (Well, I guess it could be you sicko!) Today's post is about too much of a good thing called, sun, that causes an  "extra crispy" sunburn.

We all know the best way to avoid sunburn is twofold; one, avoid overexposure and two, apply sunscreen.

Now, I don't about you, but even though the "real world" right now is not a super fun place, I still live in it and although ideal, I cannot always practice the twofold sunburn avoidance method. What to do?

Below I offer a few easy tips and home remedies for those times you over indulge in the sun.

1. Hydrate! I cannot stress this enough! If you feel thirsty, you are already probably dehydrated so drink! (Water I mean, jeez!) In fact, drinking alcohol while indulging in the sun is a no-no.  Not only will you become more dehydrated but your sense of time is slowed  so you stay out in the sun longer. (Think the lobster-like couple we have all walked past on a beach.)
2. As soon as you can, take a cool, NOT cold shower and then apply cool compresses to the burns.
3. Apply lotion... to the sunburn. Better yet, have someone else apply it. (No-one said sunburns had to be boring.)
4. I am not a big 'taking bathes recommender' but, adding some powdered oatmeal (the kind that soothes itching) and/or a cup of apple cider vinegar could help.
5. Apply cool, again, not cold, milk or yogurt to the burns. It is soothing, especially if someone else applies it. (Wink. Wink.)
6. Apply freshly brewed and cooled tea (with mint is good also) to the burns to draw out the heat. You can even apply the cooled tea bags directly to the burns to reduce swelling.
7. Make a chilled cucumber paste and apply it the burns. 
8. Make a cornstarch paste and apply it to the burns too.

The main thing I do for myself when I work in the yard is wear an adjustable visor ( I am prone to headaches so this way it's not too tight on my huge cranium) and I always wear polarized sunglasses.  I buy the visors for cheap and they are also washable and keep my eyes out for end of season sales for polarized glasses. I think a lot of people forget to protect their eyes. Overexposure to the sun can promote cataracts so put those shades on! Wear them on cloudy days too! 

I hope some of these suggestions help take you go from extra crispy to a little less crispy and soothe the sting of overdoing it. To make yourself feel better, there's always tequila; but shhhh, that's just between us. Remember, there is NEVER any judging here are Mary's Kitchen.

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