Fixit: In a pickle over sunburn? Try vinegar

Q What cures or relieves sunburn? I seem to recall vinegar being used for sunburn relief once when I was a child, but I'm not sure. I told my husband about this cure, but he laughed at it, saying he didn't want to smell like a pickle.

A The vinegar treatment is one of several homemade remedies that people swear takes the burn out of sunburn. (Saturate cotton balls with full-strength white or cider vinegar and dab on sunburned skin. The earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is. The treatment dramatically reduces the pain of sunburn, but you will smell like a pickle. One sufferer noted that she didn't care what she smelled like as long as she could sleep.)

The vinegar treatment isn't one that's generally recommended by health professionals. Dr. Lawrence Gibson and other Mayo Clinic staff recommend:

Anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), on a regular basis according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subside.

Cold compresses -- such as a towel dampened with cool tap water -- applied to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath.

Moisturizing cream, aloe or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream applied to affected skin. A low-dose (0.5 percent to 1 percent) hydrocortisone cream may decrease pain and swelling, and speed up healing.

Some products that claim to relieve sunburn pain may actually irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction, some dermatologists warn. These include topical "-caine" products, such as benzocaine.

Meanwhile, keep in mind that it may take four to six hours after sun exposure to know the full extent and severity of sunburn. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer. Also, breaking blisters slows the healing process and increases the risk of infection. If needed, you can lightly cover blisters with gauze.

Within a few days, your body will start to heal itself by getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin. Following this "peeling" process, your skin may have an irregular color and pattern for a time.

Seek medical care for sunburn if:

• Severe sunburn covers a large portion of your body with blisters.

• Sunburn is accompanied by a high fever or extreme pain.

• Severe sunburn doesn't respond to at-home care within a few days.

Source: mayoclinic.com

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.