How The Pros Deal With Sunburn

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Welcome to summer: Fourth of July weekend leaves us all a little toasted, in more ways than one. Sometimes we’re just so excited to be smack in the middle of summer, warm in the sun with a drink in our hand, that we forget to take precaution. If this sounds like you, don’t worry. Redemption is possible, particularly with this 3-step approach to sunburn remedy suggested by Charlotte’s Book Premier Provider Dr. Elizabeth Hale.

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Image: Lauren Hutton in Zihuatanejo, Mexico 1968

The solution to sunburn, and its wrinkle-inducing wrath, is a three-phase process as outlined below:

Related: Have Your Most Beautiful Summer Ever: Here’s How

Phase 1: Pop an aspirin or anti-inflammatory STAT and apply a cold compress soaked in whole milk. Dr. Hale says the fat and proteins in the milk soothe irritation.

Phase 2: Generously and obsessively moisturize the area with creams containing antioxidants like vitamins C and E and green tea. This will help the skin recover more quickly from the trauma and counteract UV damage.

Related: Learn Why Coffee In Your Bodycare Is Essential

Phase 3: Tone down inflammation and promote wound healing by seeking a trusted skincare expert to treat the area with LED light therapy, which is safe enough to be performed the moment you see sunburned skin, but also effective in eliminating damage after the burn has subsided. And once fully healed, reverse the damage with a resurfacing laser treatment such as Clear + Brilliant.

Note that you should avoid using anti-aging creams with retinol or alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids while healing a sunburn. Dr. Hale warns that they are too harsh for recently damaged skin.

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