Avoiding and Treating Sunburn

Prevention is the best bet with sunburn, but there are ways to ease the discomfort of sunburn if your get it.

There are all kinds of warnings out there by medical professionals and government agencies telling us that over exposure to the sun is not good, and we would all like to think that we stay diligent throughout the Summer to minimize our chances of sunburn, but it does eventually happen.  Best practices dictate that prevention through minimal exposure is best. Avoid mid-afternoon 10am - 2pm for full sun exposure, wear clothing and hats that shade your skin from the sun, protect your eyes with sunglasses that block as much sunlight as possible, and use sun screen products with a minimum SPF 15 (SPF 30 is better) on parts of our skin that are exposed during the day. If your skin starts to look pink, step into the shade.

Burning occurs when you have overexposed your skin to the sun. The CDC says that any discoloration of the normal palor of your skin is a sign that the skin has be damaged - that goes for sunburn, as well as suntan. By the time you notice your skin is turning pink, you should act immediately, as sunburns turn redder after exposure and the burn develops as time passes, even after exposure. 

Once you realize you have a burn, here's some tips to sooth the burn:

  • Take cool showers and baths.  Don't dry completely and try to leave a little moiisture on your skin, followed by a moisturizer to help trap the water in your skin.
  • Apply a cool wet towel to the skin.  This will keep moisture on the skin and releive the burning sensation. Remoisten and reapply when the twoel gets warm.
  • Take aspirin or ibuprofren to help reduce swelling, redness and the pain/discomfort.  Using Aceteminiphen will only help with the pain but not adress the other symptoms of sunburn.
    • Talk to a doctor before using Cortizone cream, especially on kids.
  • Use moisturizer creams to keep your skin soothed.  Don't use any kind of cream or moisturizer with a name ending in '-caine' as these products tend to dry the irritated area. 
  • Minimize exposure of burned skin to the sun. Sunburn denotes that skin is damaged and needs to heal. exposing it to the source of the damage is counterporductive and will only make things worse.
  • Stay hydrated. Sunburn dries you out, and you should take extra steps to make sure that you drink exra water to keep from drying out further.
  • If blisters form, do not pop them! Allowing blisters to heal naturally will reduce the risk of infection and let your body heal as it should.  Blisters are a sign of second degree sunburn, and form as a part of the natural healing process.

Some sunburns are enough to make people physically ill, usually called 'sun poisoning'. Seek medical assistance if your sunburn has any of the following symptoms:

  • Fever and Chills
  • Facial Swelling
  • Blisters Covering a Large Area
  • Headache, Confusion or Faintness

When your sunburn and its symptoms are gone, take extra care to protect your healed skin from the sun to avoid more serious conditions inthe future.

Last but not least, some medications may make your skin more susceptable to damage from the sun, so check with your doctor.  Some common medications that make skin more sensitive include antibiotics, heart drugs, birth control pills, acne treatments and diuretics.

Adirondack Leadership Program at Gordon College’s La Vida Center

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Take a self guided tour at Maudslay State Park during the spring bloom season! Maudslay’s laurels have covered the banks of the Merrimack River for centuries. From 1849 to 1870, Mr. and Mrs.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Salem Arts Festival 2023

The Salem Arts Festival is a joint project of Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective in Salem Massachusetts
For three days, this annual family friendly art festival transforms downtown Salem into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase their talents. The popular free event will feature many artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. The family...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Faerie Houses in the Gardens

Explore the gardens in a fun and magical way at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover Massachusetts!
Explore the gardens in a fun and magical way! Moonrise Fae have made faerie houses and nestled them in to corners of the garden. Join us to explore and let your imagination lead you on an adventure among the flowers.
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Annual Walk/Run for HAWC

The annual walk for HAWC in Salem Massachusetts is a major fundraiser for the organization!
HAWC hosts their annual fundraiser run and walk in Salem, Massachusetts. Come together to support HAWC and raise critical funds and awareness for HAWC's work. Participate in our 5K traditional walk, a timed run, through historic downtown Salem. Then stay to participate in our Family Fun Festival...
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Vintage Base Ball Opening Day and Sheep Shearing Festival

Come see how baseball used to be played at Spencer Pierce Little Farm. Photo: Matthew Muise Photography
Take a step back in time and enjoy a spring day on the farm. Watch a live sheep shearing demonstration at 11:00am with shearer Leslie Sullivan. Cheer on your favorite teams of the Essex base Ball Association on their opening day.
10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Magnolia Farmers Market

Come enjoy the Magnolia Farmers Market on Lexington Ave every Sunday!
The Magnolia Community Farmer’s Market will reopen in June of 2021 with a full line up of vendors, followers, entertainment and community purpose.
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Kayak Historic Fox Creek

Kayak the twists and turns of Fox Creek in Ipswich with the Trustees of Reservations
The Great Marsh—the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England—is not only brimming with fascinating natural history, it is also home to a rich cultural history. Nowhere is this more evident than in the meandering waters of Fox Creek. Connecting the tidal estuaries of the Essex River basin and...
11:00 am to 2:30 pm

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Spring Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants it’s most known for. In addition to learning about what plants are in bloom as well as the rare and unique species in our collection, you...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Farmhouse Wood-Fired at Appleton Farms

Farmhouse Wood-Fired Pizza at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Join the Trustees at Farmhouse Wood-Fired every Friday through Sunday, throughout the summer and fall. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets for a perfect wood-fired dining experience surrounded by the idyllic beauty of Appleton Farms. The menu will change weekly, featuring local and seasonal...
12:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Newburyport Spring Festival 2023

Celebrate the onset of Spring in beatuiful downtown Newburyport Massachusetts
The Newburyport Chamber of Commerce invites you to welcome Spring's arrival to Newburyport at the 2023 Spring Fest!
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

TitO presents Petrushka's Puppet Theater

Theater in the Open presents Petrushka's Puppet Theater at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Come one! Come all! Join us in Maudslay State Park for Petrushka’s Flying Puppet Circus! Your favorite Panto clown is bringing her puppet friends to life in feats of daring to tell fairy tale stories in ways you’ve never heard before. Grab your sunscreen and a blanket and join us for a puppet-...
2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
7:45 pm to 9:45 pm

Monday, June 5

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Take a self guided tour at Maudslay State Park during the spring bloom season! Maudslay’s laurels have covered the banks of the Merrimack River for centuries. From 1849 to 1870, Mr. and Mrs.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Monday, June 5

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Faerie Houses in the Gardens

Explore the gardens in a fun and magical way at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover Massachusetts!
Explore the gardens in a fun and magical way! Moonrise Fae have made faerie houses and nestled them in to corners of the garden. Join us to explore and let your imagination lead you on an adventure among the flowers.
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Monday, June 5

Beverly Farmers' Market

Get fresh local produce at the Beverly Farmers Market in downtown Beverly Massac
The Beverly Farmers’ Market supports local agriculture while making healthy food available to all members of the Beverly community at affordable prices; the market promotes sustainable living practices and fosters community connections through our vendors, free activities and events. The market...
Where: Odell Park
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Monday, June 5

Safe Boating Class Newburyport

The Massachusetts Environmental Police will be holding a Safe boating course in Ipswich at Town Hall
Boat America is a boating certificate class that offers an in-depth and interesting boating safety course, and provides the knowledge needed to obtain a boating certificate. Boating certificates are required for youth ages 12-15 to operate motorized vessels in Massachusetts waters. Some insurance...
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Tuesday, June 6

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Take a self guided tour at Maudslay State Park during the spring bloom season! Maudslay’s laurels have covered the banks of the Merrimack River for centuries. From 1849 to 1870, Mr. and Mrs.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Tuesday, June 6

Landmark School Tours

Landmark School is a day and boarding school in Beverly, Mass., serving students in grades 2–12 with dyslexia or other specific learning disabilities.
Got Dyslexia? Be part of a community of day and boarding students in grades 2-12 diagnosed with dyslexia or other language-based learning disabilities. Landmark School is tailored to meet the needs of students who have Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Expressive Language Disorder.
8:45 am to 11:30 am

Tuesday, June 6

Butterfly Detectives at Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Kids will learn about monarch butterflies at the Trustees of Reservations' Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover!
To encourage outdoor play and exploration of the great outdoors, this nature-based toddler playgroup will combine themed guided play with opportunities for free time for children and their caregivers to peek under rocks, inspect tree bark for hiding bugs and explore the gardens.
9:30 am to 10:30 am