Sunburns Don’t Stand a Chance Against These Treatments
By Mary Squillace, TotalBeauty.com
Because even if you’re diligent with your SPF, sometimes sunburn happens
We’d like to think an ounce of sunburn prevention is worth a pound of sunburn relief. After all, just five regular sunburns in your lifetime can double your chance of getting melanoma. But, like a certain four-letter word, sunburns happen, which is why even sunscreen zealots like us need to seek sunburn remedies from time to time.
When you first notice you’ve gotten burned, the best thing you can do for sunburn relief is to head indoors or seek shade. Unfortunately, you can’t magically get rid of a sunburn or reverse the damage to your skin, but you can take steps to relieve the redness, pain and swelling associated with sunburn. So we picked the brains of top dermatologists to learn the best ways to treat sunburn.
Keep reading to discover expert tips for treating sunburn and the soothing products you need for ultimate sunburn relief.
Related: 12 Best Sunscreens for Your Face
An Over-the-Counter Sunburn Remedy
The first thing you want to reach for in your medicine cabinet isn’t a cream or gel – it’s an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. “When you get a sunburn, the first thing you want to do is take Aleve or Ibuprofen,” says New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, MD. “That can systemically decrease amount of inflammation and pain.”
Take the Sting Out of Your Sunburn
To take your burn down a notch, try these home remedies. Place a cool compress on the burn – it will not only feel like a godsend, it’ll tamp down inflammation. An ice pack or washcloth soaked in cold water should do the trick, or you may find sunburn relief in the dairy aisle. Turns out, milk and yogurt are more than breakfast options – they can feel incredibly soothing.
For DIY sunburn relief, gently apply Greek yogurt to the burn, or make a cold milk compress by combining equal parts whole milk, ice cubes and water. “Hold the compress on the affected area for five minutes and repeat three times,” explains Dr. Marnie B. Nussbaum, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. “The pH content of the milk has an anti-inflammatory effect, while the coldness constricts blood vessels and decreases redness and swelling."
Not a fan of putting edibles on your skin? Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel, $26, which contains yogurt, will have the same effect.
Cleanse Your Sunburn With Care
When you’re treating a sunburn, chances are, you aren’t exactly clamoring for a steamy shower. But just in case your intuition steers you wrong, take it from us: Warm water can aggravate your burn, making it even more painful. Opt for a cool shower or bath instead.
During your cool-to-lukewarm sudsing session, steer clear of soap, as it can strip your skin of moisture and essential oils, leaving it tight, dry and itchy, Nussbaum says. Try a non-soap cleanser, like Dove’s Beauty Bar, $10.99 for four, or SebaMed’s Liquid Face & Body Wash, $19.99.
Related: 9 Best Self-Tanners
Lock in Moisture to Keep Your Sunburn From Peeling
You know how your skin peels off after you get a sunburn? That’s because the top layer of your skin is dead. Unfortunately you can’t bring it back to life (no, zombie skin isn’t a thing), but you can protect your skin barrier by nourishing it with hydrating products.
Dr. Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, suggests good old-fashioned Vaseline, $5.99, while Bowe recommends treating sunburns with an oil (she likes Bio-Oil, $19.99) or a fragrance-free moisturizer, like Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $15.99.
Reap the Benefits of Aloe Vera
When it comes to treating a sunburn, aloe vera’s pretty much the oldest trick in the book. And for good reason: Research has shown that it has skin-healing powers and an anti-inflammatory effect – which you’ve probably experienced firsthand if you’ve ever slathered the green stuff on a burn. Australian Gold Hello Kitty Frozen Aloe After Sun Cooling Spray, $7.99, puts a refreshing twist on this sun-care staple by offering it in the form of a cool mist (bonus: the packaging is adorable).
Just beware that while some people find aloe soothing, others find it irritating, Gohara cautions – so think twice about applying it head to toe if you’ve never used it. For those with sensitive skin, The Body Shop offers a range of gentle, fragrance-free aloe products. We like the Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15, $21.
Best Products for Sunburn Relief
Though no-frills moisturizer and aloe vera will take you far, there are lots of products specially designed to calm and heal sun-damaged skin. Nussbaum recommends La Prairie’s Soothing After Sun Mist, $90, to her patients. "It hydrates the skin and reduces redness,” she says.
MyPainAway After-Burn Cream, $19.99, should relieve pain while helping the body get rid of excess fluids and toxins at the burn site. Plus the brand donates 3 percent of the product’s proceeds to burn centers.
For face burns, try Dr. Brandt Save Our Skin Comfort Cream, $55. Other heavy hitters include Rescue Serum Concentrate, $65, and Rescue Ultra Moisturizer, $65. Both products are formulated with a stem-cell derived complex called MDFc19, which is supposed to help boost cell turnover and collagen production.
How to Treat Peeling Sunburned Skin
We get it: There’s something sickeningly satisfying about peeling sunburned skin. But no matter what kind of perverse pleasure you may get from pulling off those giant flakes, resist the urge.
“Peeling means you’ve destroyed that part of the skin,” says Gohara. “If you manipulate it, you’re more likely to get a scar,” says Gohara. Peeling and scratching can also lead to infection, Nussbaum points out. Once your skin starts peeling, pat it down with cold water to slow the process, she suggests. A product like Clinique’s After Sun Rescue Balm, $23, may minimize peeling, as it’s extremely hydrating, Nussbaum says.
Keep Using SPF to Prevent Sunburn
Repeat after us: Burns do not turn into tans. With that, it’s essential that you practice safe sun even while you’re treating a sunburn.
“Don’t think the damage is done and continue to go out in the sun,” Gohara cautions. If you do go outside – we don’t expect you to be a total hermit during your beach vacation – reapply sunscreen regularly, and don’t neglect the burned area, Gohara urges.
“The area needs more TLC now than ever because it’s more susceptible to skin cancer,” she says. Because chemical sunscreen may be too harsh for the already tender area, she suggests using a mineral sunscreen, like Baby Blue Lizard, $18.99.
Reverse Sun Damage With Antioxidants
Sunburn relief doesn’t end when the redness and peeling fade. If you want to ward off the aging effects of too much sun, your best bet is a product that’s chock-full of antioxidants, like vitamins C and E.
“I tell my patients antioxidants are the warriors against free radicals – the little chemical particles that wreak cosmetic havoc on your skin,” says Gohara. “Antioxidants will ‘eat up’ the free radicals that occur from sun damage.” She suggests a serum with vitamin C, like La Roche Posay Redermic [C], $54.99.
