How to Treat a Sunburn

Guide Note

No one wants to face skin burnt to a crisp—so even a gentle pat on the back is agony. How to Treat a Sunburn will help you relieve sensitive, sunburned skin after a long day in the sun.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Find Relief
• Step 2: Additional Treatment
• Step 3: Prevent Future Burns
• References
• Conclusion

Sunburn Treatment Tips

1. Use cold compresses and aloe vera gel to calm burning skin.
2. Drink plenty of water to avoid headaches that can result from sunburn.
3. Don't pick at peeling skin or at small blisters that may have formed from a sunburn.
4. Seek medical attention if you have persistent pain, a high fever or large blisters.
5. Prevent sunburn by staying out of the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. through 4 p.m.), wearing hats and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun and using a high-SPF sunscreen.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• by Tracy C.

Introduction

• After just a few hours outside—whether it's sunny or cloudy—you may develop the signs of a sunburn: red skin that feels warm when you touch it and is extremely sensitive. You may also feel tired or have a headache with a sunburn, and in extreme cases, your skin may have formed painful blisters.¹ Not only is it important to learn how to relieve the discomfort associated with sunburn, but you'll want to be sure to prevent sunburn in the future to avoid the much more painful effects of skin damage and even skin cancer.²

Step 1: Find Relief

(Creative Commons photo by Biology Big Brother)

• Many over-the-counter remedies exist for sunburn, and there are several things you can do easily at home to relieve your burn.

• • Cold Compresses
  1. Soak a washcloth in cold water (or equal parts water and milk, which is soothing) and apply directly to your burn.³
  2. You might also try putting a wet washcloth in your freezer and then applying it to your burn.⁴
  3. Even a cold bath or shower may help ease the pain of a sunburn.¹
  • Aloe Vera Lotion
  1. Try freezing aloe vera in an ice-cube tray for single-serve relief once a sunburn strikes.⁵
  2. Or keep aloe vera gel in the refrigerator for an extra soothing post-sun treatment.⁴
  3. One popular brand is Banana Boat Soothing Aloe After Sun Spray, which you can find here at CVS.com.⁴
  4. Others prefer applying aloe directly from the plant; just break off a tip and squeeze the gel onto your burn.⁶
  • Hydrocortisone Cream
  1. Hydrocortisone cream can help relieve the itching associated with sunburn.⁶
  2. A topical steroid such as hydrocortisone cream (up to 1% in strength) can also help calm swelling and reduce pain after a sunburn.⁷
  3. Some hydrocortisone creams are fortified with aloe, which will be additionally soothing.⁸

• If your sunburn does not respond to self-care within a few days, or if you experience severe or open blisters, vomiting or fever, you should seek medical attention for your sunburn.

Step 2: Additional Treatment

(Creative Commons photo by Keith Lewis)

• You may also be dehydrated from a day in the sun, or you may have a headache induced by your sunburn.

1. You may wish to take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin to help with sunburn. Do not give aspirin to children or teens and be sure to follow instructions carefully.¹
2. Be sure you drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and ward off headaches.¹
3. You may also want to lie down in a dark room if you start to feel a headache coming on after a sunburn.⁷
4. Other popular home remedies include adding oatmeal to a cold bath and applying powder to skin to avoid irritating rubbing against clothing. Or try these other at-home treatments.³
5. Cold yogurt has been known to be soothing when applied to a sunburn.⁶
6. Once your burn heals a bit and starts to peel, don't pick at skin, no matter how tempting it is. It needs to heal fully first and fall away on its own.⁴ Use moisturizers to avoid excessive peeling or the temptation to pick.⁹
7. Small blisters will heal on their own, so don't pop them or scratch them and don't wear clothing that will irritate them.⁷
8. You may wish to drain a larger blister following these instructions carefully, but these blisters may also be prone to infection, so monitor them carefully and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.⁷

Step 3: Prevent Future Burns

(Creative Commons photo by Gaetan Lee)

• Though the sunburn you have now will likely disappear shortly, to avoid future skin damage that could even lead to skin cancer, be sure to stay out of the sun and follow these rules for avoiding sunburn.¹⁰

1. Avoid peak hours in the sun, essentially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m..¹
2. If you have to be out during those hours, wear hats and cover up with clothing that will protect you from the sun, like a wide-brimmed hat whose brim is at least four inches.¹
3. Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and that will protect against both UVA and UVB rays.² Learn more on Mahalo's page about Sunscreen.
4. Be sure you apply enough sunscreen—an adult should use about an ounce of sunscreen, which is about a shot glass's worth.²
5. Apply sunscreen a half hour before you will be exposed to the sun.¹
6. Re-apply every couple of hours, especially after swimming or sweating excessively.²
7. Remember to protect your eyes as well, which are extremely sensitive to the sun's harsh rays. Wear sunglasses with UV protection and with frames that sit close to your eyes and wrap around your face to guard your eyes from all angles.¹
8. And your lips, too! Use a chapstick with SPF to keep lips from burning, too.²

The Don'ts of Sunbathing

1. A base tan won't keep you from burning, so there's no point in thinking a slow tan is going to "protect" you from the sun's rays.¹
2. Thus, hanging out in the tanning bed will not prevent sunburn once you hit the great outdoors. Tanning beds can, in fact, create their own skin damage and lead to skin cancer.²
3. If you're a lifeguard or otherwise required to be out in the sun, use a physical sunblock like zinc oxide to protect your skin instead of developing a serious tan, or burn, both of which will ultimately cause damage in the future.²
4. And newborn babies should always be away from sun, while babies six months and older should be doused in sunscreen before going outside!¹¹

Conclusion

• Treating a sunburn will bring you temporary relief until the burn heals on its own. Be sure to follow prevention strategies for the future, however, as sun-damaged skin isn't only cosmetically problematic, but cause for more serious skin problems like melanoma and skin cancer. Check out this slideshow of sun-damaged skin to learn more about the ill effects of the sun's rays.¹² And then be sure to wear sunscreen and stay out of the sun!

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References for How To Treat a Sunburn

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} MayoClinic.com: Sunburn
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} WebMD: Sunburn: Prevention
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} WebMD: Other Home Treatment Measures for Sunburn
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} RealSimple.com: Summer Skin Survival Guide
5. ↑ RealSimple.com: Make Sunburn Treatments in Ice-Cube Trays
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} eHow.com: How to Treat Sunburn
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} WebMD: Sunburn: Home Treatment
8. ↑ CVS: Hydrocortisone Creams
9. ↑ Skin Cancer Foundation: Worst Case Scenario: Treating Sunburn
10. ↑ Skin Cancer Foundation: Facts about Sunburn and Skin Cancer
11. ↑ Skin Cancer Foundation: Prevention Tips
12. ↑ WebMD: Sun-Damaged Skin Slideshow

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