Best treatments to ease the agony of sunburn - and what you should avoid doing

With scorching temperatures hitting many areas of the UK, Brits have jumped at the chance to bask in the sunshine.

People headed out to their gardens, as well as beaches and parks, after weeks of being cooped up indoors due to the coronavirus crisis.

But in the excitement, many went outdoors without applying sun cream first - leading to some very painful results.

It's easy to forget the sun can be just as damaging at home as it is when we go on holiday, and Brits often shrug of the need to take the same precautions.

If you've made that mistake, you'll know the agony that comes with it. There's a few methods tha can help to ease the agony - and a few things you should definitely avoid doing, too.

Aftersun creams and sprays can help relieve the pain (Getty)

The NHS website says: "Sunburn is red, hot and sore skin caused by too much sun. It may flake and peel after a few days.

"You can treat it yourself. It usually gets better within 7 days."

How to ease the pain

• If you notice you have burnt, get out of the sun as soon as possible

• Use cool water to take the heat out of your skin with a shower, bath or damp towel. Be careful not to let a baby or young child get too cold

• Apply aftersun cream or spray, like aloe vera

• Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water, which can also help decrease your body temperature

• If sunburn becomes painful, take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the instructions on the packet

• Keep sunburnt skin covered from direct sunlight until the skin has fully healed

The NHS advised never to apply ice cubes to your skin to treat sunburn (Getty)

Things to avoid

• Do not pop blisters which may occur as a result of sunburn

• Don't put ice or ice packs onto your skin in an attempt to cool the burn down

• Don't scratch or try to remove peeling skin

• Do not use petroleum jelly on the affected areas

• Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes over sunburnt skin

Severe sunburn can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can be very serious.

Signs of heat exhaustion include a headache, dizziness, feeling sick, cramps, and fast breathing or a racing pulse.

If you suspect someone may have heat exhaustion, have them lie down in a cool place, with their feet slightly raised.

Make sure they drink plenty of water and use cool water on damp towels to decrease their temperature.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes. In the case of emergencies, seek medical help. Full NHS advice on heatstroke and heat exhaustion can be found here.