How To Soothe Sunburned Skin
How To Soothe Sunburned Skin – Prime Day 2024 The best Prime Day deals AirPods on sale These secret Prime Day deals are worth checking out Everything you should buy (and skip) this Prime Day The best deals under $100 Luggage and travel deals Yes, the Dyson AirWrap is on sale
Some of the best products for treating sunburn at home include moisturizer, aloe vera gel, hydrocortisone cream and more.Getty Images
How To Soothe Sunburned Skin
Even when we wear sunscreen and UPF clothing, sunburns occur. Some are mild and give the skin a pink tint, while others are more severe and can even cause blisters. Either way, sunburns are uncomfortable, but there are many over-the-counter products that soothe the skin and promote healing.
Can You Prevent Skin Cancer After A Bad Sunburn?
We spoke with dermatologists about the best sunburn treatments you can buy and how to know when to see a doctor. We’ve rounded up expert-recommended sunburn treatments, including aloe vera gel, moisturizer, and anti-itch cream.
With dermatologist recommendations in mind, we’ve rounded up over-the-counter products you can use to treat sunburn at home. Experts tell us it’s essential to stay hydrated while recovering from a sunburn, so make sure you drink plenty of water (having the right water bottle might encourage you to do so). If your sunburn is severe or you feel sick, be sure to see a doctor for additional treatment, such as prescription medication.
All of our experts recommend treating sunburn with aloe vera, an ingredient known for its cooling, soothing and hydrating properties. You can use Fruit of the Earth aloe vera gel on your face and body, and it dries clear once you rub it into the skin. The gel is free of perfume, alcohol and added color.
If you don’t like the feeling of a gel, brands also offer aloe vera lotions like that of Sun Bum. While the aloe soothes the skin, the lotion’s cocoa butter and vitamin E hydrate it to further promote healing. The lotion has a light, non-greasy feel.
How To Get Rid Of Sunburn Fast, Reduce Redness & Prevent Peeling
Stevenson prefers to treat sunburns with creams, usually sold in a jar, rather than lotions, usually in a squeeze or pump bottle. She says creams are thicker and more hydrating than lotions, making them better for dry, inflamed skin.
Cetaphil has some of our favorite moisturizers, and this one is great for sunburn because it contains aloe vera. It also contains vitamin E to hydrate and soothe the skin. The cream is non-greasy and absorbs quickly. It’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.
Peeling skin is part of the natural healing process from a sunburn. It’s your body’s way of getting rid of UV-damaged cells, and while it’s tempting, the worst thing you can do is pick them off. Instead, apply a simple, unscented moisturizer to help skin repair itself, says Dr. Michele Farber, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
CeraVe’s moisturizing cream contains ceramides to restore your skin barrier, as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid. The fragrance-free, non-comedogenic cream has a rich texture and you can use it on your face and body.
Extreme Sunburn Treatment: 11 Remedies [medication & Natural]
Moisturizers are also available in spray form, similar to spray sunscreen. Since the hydrating spray is lighter than a pot of cream, I find it easier to travel with. I keep a bottle in my beach bag in case my fair skin turns red after a day outside.
Vaseline makes a non-aerosol moisturizing spray with aloe vera that hydrates and soothes sunburned skin. After rubbing it, the spray quickly penetrates the skin and leaves a smooth, non-greasy and non-sticky feeling.
Hydrocortisone creams help soothe itching and irritation, and over-the-counter options are a great place to start when looking for sunburn treatments, says Farber. Cortizone 10 Cream is made with 1% hydrocortisone, the highest concentration allowed in over-the-counter products, and soothing aloe. It is free of perfumes and dyes.
Like hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion can relieve itching when applied to irritated skin, Huang says. It also has a cooling effect and can help peel the skin. This calamine lotion has a liquid consistency and is pink, so be careful where and when you apply it – the lotion does not dry clear, so you see it on your skin and it may rub off on fabric . However, in my experience, cleaning it from surfaces is easy and it has never stained anything I own.
How To Treat A Sunburn: 4 Tricks For Soothing Sunburn Relief
Farber says cold compresses can relieve inflammation caused by sunburn. This one has a nylon exterior, so you can apply it directly to your skin without wrapping it in a towel. The compress is flexible even when frozen, allowing it to adapt to several parts of the body.
If your sunburn causes blisters, don’t break out or scratch the skin — this could lead to future infections or scarring, experts told us. Dermatologists recommend trying the treatments below instead.
Farber says if your sunburn is just red and itchy, avoid bandages and stick to moisturizers. But if your sunburn causes blisters, hydrocolloid bandages like these can promote healing. They have a water-resistant seal and can be worn for up to seven days after application, depending on the brand. Hydrocolloid bandages can also help reduce scarring.
In addition to bandages, moist dressings like these burn pads can help soothe and cool the skin, while providing a barrier that keeps the area clean and moisturized, says Farber. Spenco’s 2nd Skin Wet Anti-Burn Pads have a high water content and after placing them on your burning sunburn, you cover the pad with tape or stretchy gauze. You can purchase the burn pads in small, medium, and large sizes.
How Long Does A Sunburn Last? Experts Explain
Vaseline has occlusive properties, which help seal water in a disrupted skin barrier, says Farber. If blisters open on skin erosions, you can help prevent secondary infection by applying Aquaphor to the affected areas. The ointment is mainly composed of petroleum jelly and is free of perfumes, preservatives and colorings.
A sunburn is damage caused to your skin by excessive exposure to UV rays, Cameron explains. This is an inflammatory response that occurs because UVA and UVB rays damage the DNA inside skin cells, leading to sunburn and sometimes the formation of pigment (tanning), explains Stevenson. “It’s your body trying to defend itself,” she says. “Everyone’s skin type is different, but if you get color or burn, you’re getting UV damage.” You can get sunburned from the sun, as well as tanning beds, says Huang.
Different degrees of sunburn are determined by the depth of damage to the skin. There are three degrees of sunburn – these degrees also apply to other types of burns, such as those caused by chemicals or fire. The deeper the sunburn, the more severe it is and the longer it takes to heal, Huang says.
Yes, the lighter your skin, the more prone you are to sunburn, says Huang. However, anyone can get sunburned, regardless of their skin color, light or dark, and anyone can be at risk of skin cancer.
How To Get Rid Of A Sunburn Fast, According To Dermatologists
Short-term: Mild sunburns manifest as redness and tenderness of the skin, while more severe sunburns may cause fever, chills or nausea, says Dr. Dina Strachan, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology. Overall, sunburns are dangerous because certain symptoms can affect multiple systems in the body. For example, severe blisters and fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which impacts the body’s circulatory and nervous systems, says Strachan. If you start to experience fever, chills, nausea, or fatigue, it’s time to see a doctor about your sunburn.
Long term: “Sunburn can significantly contribute to your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging,” says Huang. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in medical care, but routinely protecting yourself from UV rays can help prevent it, he says.
First, try to avoid UV exposure while your sunburn heals, says Huang. Do not spend prolonged periods in the sun; if you must, wear sun protective clothing and sunscreen.
Next, stick to over-the-counter sunburn treatments and don’t experiment with home remedies, especially those that contain apple cider vinegar and witch hazel, which can irritate sunburned skin. the sun, Farber explains. Additionally, experts advised us not to pop blisters or pull on peeling and flaking skin while your sunburn heals.
How To Treat A Sunburn
Although occasional mild sunburns aren’t a big problem, studies show that a history of sunburns, especially severe sunburns, can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. This is why it is important to focus on their prevention. Here’s how:
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Zoe Malin is an Assistant Updates Editor at NBC Select who writes about skin care, including articles on ingrown hairs, razor burn, tinted sunscreen, and sunscreen for acne-prone skin. For this article, she interviewed five experts on the best sunburn treatments and rounded up their favorite options.
Stay up to date with NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, technology and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay in the loop.