How to Quickly Heal a Sunburn

If you are on a beach vacation, there is a 90% chance you got a sunburn. A bad one. We have all been through this. You either miss a spot or forget to reapply your SPF throughout the day, especially when you are laying down so relaxed on the beach. To avoid looking like a lobster for so long, here are some dermatologist-approved methods for making your sunburn feel better and go away faster.

Take a painkiller

It’s important to know that sunburns significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. That’s why every dermatologist stresses on reapplying your sunscreen when outside. But in case you got a sunburn and a severe one, immediately take an over-the-counter painkiller like Tylenol or Advil every four hours.

Keep it cool

Apply a cold compress to soothe the skin. Place it over your burnt skin to soothe any burning sensations and calm the redness. It will draw away excess heat from your skin and reduce inflammation. After cooling the skin with the cold compress, apply some moisturizer to calm the skin even more.

Refrigerate your aloe

So, aloe isn’t exactly the most groundbreaking sunburn remedy. You have probably heard about it before, but it’s super popular for a reason. Aloe is an excellent anti-inflammatory, meaning it calms the skin to reduce the redness and pain you’re feeling. And if you put the aloe in the fridge for a bit before using it, the already cool gel will feel even cooler to your skin.

Invest in a healing moisturizer

A sunburn tends to leave the outer layer of the skin kind of damaged, but no need to worry, once the inflammation tones down, the skin will start to regenerate itself naturally. However, if you want to speed up the healing process, slather the burnt part with a moisturizer that has healing ingredients. It is going to be a bit pricy more than normal moisturizers but it will have an amazing effect and you will heal up much faster.

Rub on OTC hydrocortisone cream

Remember that cream your mom used to rub it on your bug bites that got very itchy? Yeah, that’s the one. Similar to aloe, hydrocortisone cream is anti-inflammatory, so it will calm your skin down. If your sunburnt is getting itchy, rub on some hydrocortisone cream. Its ingredients will cure the itch and will also soothe your skin.

Oatmeal Bath

We are sure that you did not hear about this one before. If you are feeling lazy and don’t want to go through all this long process. Here is a quick and lazy solution. Fill up your tub with lukewarm water and dump in a couple of cups of oats. Oats are natural anti-inflammation. As you soak and relax in the tub, the oats will chill your skin right away.

Pour on some milk

Weird? Not really. Milk contains vitamins A and D that help repair damaged cells and the lactic acid in the milk is a gentle exfoliator that will help the dead skin peel right off. Soak a cloth in some milk and then put it on your burnt skin, you will feel awesome after it!

Avoid makeup

If you got a burn on your face, avoid makeup at all costs. Seriously, you do not need any heavy formulas on your skin because they will prevent the skin from receiving oxygen which will lead the skin to get irritated and will delay the healing process. If you are dead set on covering up the redness, use a very light powder, no heavy liquid foundations and concealers. Dust the powder gently with a makeup sponge, avoid using makeup brushes.

Don’t pick

Do. Not. Pick. Yes, we know how satisfying it is when you pick and peel your flaky sunburned skin. But Don’t. When you mess with it and pick and peel at it, your skin will more likely suffer from discoloration and scarring once your skin finishes the healing process.

Seek the shade

Staying in the sun after getting a sunburn can do more damage to the infected area or even expand it. So, if you can avoid going out in the sun and stay at home, that would be ideal. But if you still want to be outside, then find some shaded place to stay. And if the burn is on your body, it’s best to cover the area with clothing.