HOW TO: Treat A Sunburn

Of course this doesn't apply to you, since you've been wearing a hat, sun protective clothing, and have been excellent with applying (and reapplying) sunscreen everyday with no redness in sight. For the sunburned family member or friend, here's your skin soothing checklist.

GET IN A COOL BATH OR SHOWER ASAP

Lowering your skin temperature will soothe discomfort and start to cool you down.

 

DITCH THE SOAP

Avoid scrubs or fragranced soaps that can irritate and stick with gentle body wash.

 

POP AN ADVIL

An over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin will work as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and a possible fever.

 

MOISTURIZE

After a cooling bath or shower, apply some pure aloe gel. Make sure it is the kind without fragrance, menthols or coloring. After that dries, apply a hydrating lotion, cream or oil. Look for ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid. We recommend EltaMD Moisture-Rich Body Crème. For blisters, dab on hydrocortisone cream if the area is itchy, or use a healing salve like Dr. Rogers Restore Healing Balm.

 

STAY HYDRATED

Maintain internal hydration levels to heal faster, and aim for at least 2 liters per day.

 

REPAIR YOUR DAMAGE

We recommend using Neova DNA Total Repair, which contains DNA repair enzymes to target and correct damage caused by UV exposure. Neova is clinically proven to increase the skin's ability to defend against UV damage that can lead to premature skin aging and skin cancer.