10 Expert-Approved Products to Revive Sunburned Skin

Few things kill the summertime vibe quicker than sunburn. Overexposure to the sun can turn soft, supple skin red, flaky, and inflamed — no matter your skin tone. In other more extreme instances, sunburn can even result in puss-filled blisters that are painful to touch. Ouch! As frustrating and painful as it can be, there are quick and easy aftercare tips for sunburn, ways to revive delicate skin, and products to protect you from future damage.

Contrary to popular belief, sun damage and sunburn don't begin and end with redness and flaking. It starts with the tans many of us love to get in the summer months. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mara Weinstein, "when the skin is tan, the natural color of your skin deepens and appears darker. Even if you appear tan, the skin cells have still experienced DNA damage from the UV exposure." Sunburn doesn't only strike when you've been on the beach all day either. According to Dr. Marisa Garshick, board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, "you can get sunburn on cool or cloudy days." So if you're into skiing, snowboarding, or just hanging on a lake on a sunny fall day, UV rays reflected from snow and water can lead to burns, too.

You've been good about applying sunscreen daily and refreshing with a powder sunscreen, but sometimes sunburn still creeps in and steals your shine. When you notice sunburn, board-certified dermatologist and Namesake skincare advisor Dr. Lynn McKinley-Grant suggests using a cold compress and ice to cool the skin down. Once the skin cools, try to keep sun exposure to a minimum. "If you must go outside," Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, Principal Scientist at OLAY, says, "use a fragrance-free mineral sunscreen." Eliminating the scent can be helpful since the solvent alcohols found in chemical sunscreens tend to sting.

Some prescription medicines are unfortunately another sunburn trigger. "Sunburn risk is increased when an individual is taking certain antibiotics and medications such as tetracyclines, specifically doxycycline and retinoids," Laura Gardon, RN, BSN, and SunBurnt Special Projects Representative, says. You may be familiar with doxycycline if you're treating rosacea or severe acne. Retinoids, while useful for evening out skin tone by pumping up cell turnover and boosting collagen, is very sensitive to sunlight, and can easily bring on a sunburn.

Take a look at your sunburned skin. Is it red? Do you have painful blisters? The way your skin looks often dictates how much damage sunburn has caused. The skin will turn red if the top layer is burned, while the skin will form blisters if the burn is more severe. "A blister forms by our bodies as a natural protective mechanism to an injured area," Dr. McKinley Grant says. "An intact blister is sterile and should be protected from breaking open. Once the blister is healed, you can proceed with applying antiseptic ointment or hydrocortisone cream."

Flaky skin is another sign of sunburn, and while using an exfoliator to scrub away the layer of dead skin that sunburn can create, it can lead to further irritation. Exfoliating sunburned skin "exposes the damaged layer of skin which can inhibit the healing process, open the skin up to infection, and potentially cause long-term damage or discoloration," says facialist and medical aesthetician Candace Marin. Keep in mind that there is a difference between flakiness that comes from your skin just being dry and sunburn flakes, which often also come with tightness and skin that's painful to the touch.

Severing fierce and fashionable looks is always on the agenda, but when you're experiencing sunburn, it's important to be a little more cautious with your outfit choices. Dr. Rebecca Kazin, MD, Director of Clinical Research at Icon Dermatology and Aesthetics, suggests wearing tightly-woven clothing that covers your skin when outdoors to prevent further damage.

Now that you know what indicates sunburn and what steps to take once you notice sunburn, it's important to understand what products can help alleviate the pain and help heal the skin. Dr. Mona A. Gohara, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, suggests using antioxidant-rich ingredients like vitamins C and E to reduce free radicals that lead to dullness and dark spots. Dr. Gohara also recommends humectants, like hyaluronic acid and the gel from aloe vera leaves, which draw moisture back into the skin.

Most cases of sunburn heal themselves within days, so if blisters are increasingly painful and inflamed despite consistent treatment, you may be at risk of infection and should contact your derm ASAP. "If it blisters and you are in a lot of pain, it's important to seek [help from] a professional as you do not want the area to become infected," Dr. McKinley-Grant advises. No matter your skin tone, it's essential to be on the lookout for potential melanoma that could develop from moles that may already be present on the body. If you notice mole growth larger than 1/4 of an inch, you should reach out to a dermatologist.

Looking for the best ways to treat sunburned skin can be overwhelming, especially if you're experiencing flaking skin and pain blisters. We've compiled a helpful list of expert-approved products to quickly calm irritation and bring your skin back to life after it's been sunburned.