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So you got a sunburn. Not because you were trying to achieve that “crispy” look — but because you goofed. It happens.
Problem is, now you are wearing a crinkly paper suit of pain. One that’s crimson. And peeling.
“At first, you may notice a little pinkness and slight discomfort that over a few hours turns deep red and very painful,” says Andrea Kalus, MD, a physician at the Dermatology Clinic at UW Medical Center – Roosevelt. “Over the next 24 hours, skin symptoms will reach their peak, and you can even develop blisters or feel chills.”
Is there anything you can do at this point to find relief?
Here's what you can do to cool down
According to Kalus, the pain should start to subside in one to three days. But if you’re not into just waiting for the crinkly suit to slough off, you can try these sunburn remedies to relieve your suffering.
Take me to the (cool) water
“A cotton towel run under cool water and left damp can feel good laid over the painful red areas,” says Kalus. “A cool bath can also feel good, just remember to pat dry — no rubbing.”
This is not the time to try out your Dead Sea bath salts or any other additives that might irritate your skin. Keep your bath cool and simple — if it’s too warm, it can bring additional inflammation to already-inflamed skin.
If you don’t have a tub, a cold shower will also help. But skip the pulsing power massage setting on your showerhead for now.
Pamper your skin
After a sunburn, layers of skin that have been damaged will peel off. Be sure to stop any beauty routines, such as exfoliating, that might aggravate skin that’s already angry.
Hold off on using skin care products that contain tretinoin, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide until skin is no longer tender. And moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
You could also try using cooling gels and arthritis gels that contain diclofenac, since those can also make you (and your burn) feel more comfortable.
Relieve the distress
For some it’s pins and needles, for others it’s just plain stinging or an itch that can’t be relieved. No matter how you experience sunburn, you’re likely to feel some distress.
“In the past, dermatologists have recommended topical steroids, but studies have not shown much benefit of steroids compared to available moisturizers, so we don’t do that anymore,” says Kalus.
You can, however, try taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) since, taken according to the instructions on the bottle, they will relieve the pain that comes from inflammation.
Drink lots of water
No, drinking water won’t prevent sunburn. But after the fact, you definitely want to stay hydrated. That’s because a sunburn draws fluid to the surface of your skin and away from the rest of your body, which can cause you to become dehydrated, especially when a large area of your skin is burned.
Children dehydrate even more quickly than adults due to their small body mass, so make sure your little ones stay hydrated. High water-volume foods like watermelon or strawberries are an effective way to increase water consumption for children who have had enough of their sippy cups.
Protect sunburned skin as it heals
Remember that your skin is your first line of defense against illness and injury, including bacteria that could infect an open wound. That’s why if you have sunburn blisters — small, white, fluid-filled bumps on sunburned skin — you shouldn’t pop them. Instead, loosely cover sunburn blisters with gauze to protect them.
“It’s best to let the blisters flatten on their own — they will eventually peel off,” says Kalus. “The blister and the fluid underneath are the body’s perfect bandage for this injury.”
As your skin heals, limit your time outdoors, especially during peak sunshine hours in the middle of the day. When you do go outside, wear long pants and a sun shirt or rash guard shirt — one that’s labeled ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 50. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and oversized sunglasses, too. And of course, use sunscreen on skin that’s not blistered.
Know when to see a doctor
The good news is that nurturing your skin at home works for the vast majority of sunburns, even the gross and blistering ones. But Kalus does say that you should contact your doctor if you are taking medicines that make sun sensitivity worse, like some acne medicines, or if you’re having trouble taking care of weeping blisters (yikes).
“If you have symptoms of heat stroke — such as fever, headache, confusion, nausea and vomiting — you should go to the emergency room,” says Kalus. “Heat stroke is not part of sunburn, but both happen when out in the summer weather, and heat stroke is an emergency and should be quickly treated.”
Since sunscreen is not recommended for babies less than 6 months of age, newborns should be kept out of the sun in a nice, shady spot. Also, though this seems obvious, children with a severe sunburn, blisters or symptoms of heat stress should see a doctor.
Protect your new skin
New skin will eventually replace the crinkly stuff. The pain and itching will end. Phew.
Now, make sure that you nurture that new, sensitive skin by remembering to moisturize (a lot) and always use sunscreen. Because when it comes down to it, preventing that sunburn in the first place is the best defense of all.
This article was originally published on June 26, 2018. It has been reviewed and updated with new info. Vanessa Raymond and Heather Logue contributed to this article.
