How Can I Treat Sunburn?

Did you start treatment as soon as you noticed sunburn?

Do you practice to immediately take shelter from the sun after you feel sunburns on your skin?

Do you cool your skin with a cold shower, bath or wet towel?

Do you use a moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy to soothe burnt skin?

Have you increased your water intake?

Do you wear loose-fitting clothing that covers sunburn?

Do you take over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen to relieve pain and discomfort?

Do you apply a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription to particularly painful areas?

Do you know that you should not apply petroleum jelly, benzocaine, lidocaine or butter to sunburn?

Do you know that you should not pop blisters from sunburns (if they appear on the skin), nor you should scratch or try to remove the peeled skin?

Based on your answers, there are several other ways that can help you treat sunburn. It is very important to start treatment as soon as you notice sunburn. You should immediately get out of the sun and go in the shade or ideally indoors. A cold shower, bath or cold towel can help cool your skin. After showering, you should dry yourself gently, and then apply a moisturizer like the one containing aloe vera or soy to soothe sunburned skin. Increase your water intake to cool down and stay hydrated. Be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers sunburn to protect already damaged skin from direct sunlight.

Based on your answers, you know a lot about how to treat sunburn. If you have sunburn that makes you feel very uncomfortable, you can apply a hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without a prescription. However, you should never apply petroleum jelly, benzocaine, lidocaine or butter to sunburn, as this can worsen symptoms and slow down healing. You can use over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, or aspirin to reduce pain, swelling, or redness. If you have blisters on your skin, do not pop them but let them heal. You should not apply ice to burnt skin or try to remove peeling skin.