3 Best Positions to Sleep With Sunburn | Surviving Sunburn Nights

Sunburns can be a real pain. Especially when you’re trying to sleep. Ever noticed how it feels hotter and more uncomfortable at night? The pressure of your body on the bed and the feel of the sheets against your skin can make it tough to get comfortable. Even the heat from your own sunburn can make you toss and turn. Read more to learn the 3 Best Positions to Sleep With Sunburn

Why is this happening? Why does a sunburn make it so hard to sleep? How can we find the right position to sleep with a sunburn? In this article, I’ll explain the 3 Best Positions to Sleep With Sunburn and how you can find some rest.

Why Does Sunburn Make Sleeping Difficult?

Let’s try to figure out why sunburn makes sleeping hard. To do that, we first need to understand what sunburn does to your skin.

A Skin Alarm

When you stay too long under the sun, your skin gets burnt. It’s like your skin’s way of saying, “Hey, too much sun!” The sun’s rays can damage your skin. When this happens, your skin turns red and feels hot. This is what we call sunburn.

Why so Sensitive?

When your skin is sunburned, it gets very sensitive. Imagine getting a small scratch. It hurts a bit, right? But if your skin is sunburned, even a tiny scratch can feel much worse. That’s why lying in bed, with the sheets rubbing against your sunburn, can feel so painful.

Heat and Sleep Don’t Mix

Ever noticed that it’s harder to sleep on a hot night? That’s because our bodies like to be cool when we sleep. It helps us fall asleep and stay asleep. But when you have sunburn, your skin feels hot. This can make it harder for you to sleep.

Inflammation

Inflammation is your body’s way of fixing things. When you have sunburn, your body sends more blood to the area to help repair the skin. This causes inflammation, which can make your skin feel tight and swollen. It also adds to the heat and discomfort.

Interrupted Sleep

Sunburn can also wake you up in the middle of the night. Why? Because when you move in your sleep, your skin stretches and pulls. If your skin is sunburned and inflamed, these movements can cause pain, waking you up.

How Does Your Sleep Position Affect Your Sunburn?

Ever tried to sleep with sunburn? If yes, you know it can be tough. The way you sleep can either help you or make things worse. Let’s see how.

Sleeping on Your Back

When you sleep on your back, your front is free. So, if your sunburn is on your front side, sleeping on your back might help. But, what if your sunburn is on your back? That’s when things get tricky.

Sleeping on Your Stomach

When your back is sunburned, you might think sleeping on your stomach is best. But, this can cause other problems. Like what? Like neck pain or back pain. Why? Because when you sleep on your stomach, your neck is turned to one side. This can strain your neck and back. So, it’s not the best option.

Sleeping on Your Side

What about sleeping on your side? This can work, but only if you have sunburn on one side of your body. If both sides are sunburned, this can be a problem.

Best Position to Sleep With Sunburn

Finding the right sleep position with sunburn can be tough. But don’t worry. We’ve got some ideas that might help.

Sleeping Position: On Your Side

Sleeping on your side might be the best idea if you have sunburn. Why? Let’s see.

When you sleep on your side, only one part of your body touches the bed. The other part is free. So, if you have sunburn on one side, you can sleep on the other side. This way, the sunburned skin doesn’t touch anything. It can relax and heal.

But, what if both sides are sunburned? You can still sleep on your side. How? Use a soft blanket or a big pillow. Put it against your back or your front. This way, your skin doesn’t touch the bed or the sheets. It touches the soft blanket or pillow. This can be less painful.

When you sleep on your side, you can also use pillows to help. Put one pillow between your knees. This can help keep your body in a good position. It can also reduce pressure on your skin.

How This Helps in Sleeping with Sunburn

Sleeping on your side has many benefits when you have sunburn. Let’s see what they are.

1. Less Pressure: When you sleep on your side, less of your body touches the bed. This means less pressure on your sunburned skin. Less pressure means less pain.
2. Cooler: Your body can lose heat more easily when you sleep on your side. This can help you feel cooler. And remember, cooler bodies sleep better.
3. Easier Movement: When you sleep on your side, it’s easier to move. This can be helpful if you need to change positions during the night.

Sleeping Position: Elevated Rest

Here’s another position that might help you if you have sunburn: elevated rest. What’s that? Let’s see.

Elevated rest is when you sleep in a position that’s not flat. You can do this by using pillows or a recliner chair. The idea is to raise the part of your body that’s sunburned. This can help in a few ways.

1. Less Blood Flow: When you raise a part of your body, it can reduce the blood flow to that area. This can help reduce the heat and pain from the sunburn.
2. No Pressure: If the sunburn is on your back or your bottom, sitting in a recliner chair can help. Why? Because there’s no pressure on these areas. This can make sleeping less painful.

How This Helps in Sleeping with Sunburn

Elevated rest can have many benefits when you have sunburn. Let’s see what they are.

1. Cooling Effect: Less blood flow can mean less heat. This can help your body cool down, which can make sleep easier.
2. Reduced Pressure: No pressure means less pain. This can help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
3. Comfortable Movement: Elevated rest can make it easier to move. This can be helpful if you need to change positions during the night.

Sleeping Position: On Your Stomach with Pillows

Sleeping on your stomach can also be an option. But, it’s important to do it right. Here’s how.

If your sunburn is on your back, you can try sleeping on your stomach. But, remember to use pillows. They can help in two ways. First, you can use a pillow under your hips. This can reduce the pressure on your stomach and chest. Second, use a soft pillow for your head. This can help keep your neck in a good position.

How This Helps in Sleeping with Sunburn

Sleeping on your stomach with pillows can have many benefits. Let’s see what they are.

1. Less Pressure: The pillow under your hips can reduce the pressure on your stomach and chest. This can make sleeping less painful.
2. Good Position: The pillow for your head can keep your neck in a good position. This can help prevent neck and back pain.
3. Easier Movement: If you need to move during the night, this position can make it easier.

What Other Measures Can Support Comfortable Sleep with Sunburn?

Sleep positions can help with sunburn, but they’re not the only thing. There are other things you can do to help you sleep better. Let’s see what they are.

Cool Down Your Room

A cool room can help you sleep better, especially with sunburn. When your skin is burnt, it feels hot. A cool room can help balance that heat. It can help your body relax and get ready for sleep.

Take Care of Your Skin

1. Cool Bath: Before bed, take a cool bath or shower. This can help cool down your skin.
2. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is known to help with sunburn. It can cool the skin and help it heal. You can find it in many creams and gels. Use it before you go to bed to help soothe your skin.
3. Moisturize: After your cool bath or shower, moisturize your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated. Dry skin can be more painful.

Wear the Right Clothes

The clothes you wear to bed can make a big difference. Here are some tips:

1. Loose Clothes: Tight clothes can rub against your skin and cause pain. Loose clothes can help avoid this.
2. Soft Fabrics: Soft fabrics like cotton can be less irritating to your skin.
3. No Buttons or Zippers: Buttons and zippers can press against your skin and cause pain. Try to wear clothes without them.

Let’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep with sunburn can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Adjusting your sleep position and making a few changes to your bedtime routine can help. Sleeping on your side or elevating the burned area, cooling your room, wearing soft, loose clothes, taking care of your skin, and staying hydrated can all contribute to a more comfortable sleep.