Cool water, moisturizer, and an anti-inflammatory pain reliever are the three pillars of calming a sunburn. The sooner you start, the more comfortable the next few days will be. Most mild to moderate sunburns resolve on their own within a week, but the right care during that window can reduce pain, limit peeling, and help your skin recover faster.
Cool the Skin Right Away
The first thing to do is get out of the sun and bring your skin temperature down. A cool bath or shower works well, and so does draping a damp cloth over the burned area. Use cool water, not ice-cold. Water that’s too cold can shock already-stressed skin and, especially in young children, can lower body temperature to the point of shivering. There’s no magic number for how long to cool the skin. Studies on burn cooling have tested durations from two minutes to over an hour without finding a single ideal length, but around 15 to 20 minutes is a comfortable starting point. You can repeat this throughout the day whenever the burn feels hot or tight.
Pat your skin dry gently when you’re done. Rubbing with a towel will irritate the burn and increase pain.
Moisturize While Skin Is Still Damp
Applying a moisturizer to slightly damp skin helps seal in water and keeps the burned area from drying out. Aloe vera gel is a go-to option for good reason: it’s naturally rich in water, contains antioxidants like vitamins C and E that reduce skin stress, and has anti-inflammatory properties that ease redness and swelling. Keeping damaged skin well-hydrated also limits how much it peels later on.
What you put on matters as much as what you leave off. Skip any product that contains fragrances, dyes, or alcohol, all of which sting and further irritate sensitive skin. Avoid lotions with petroleum, which can trap heat in the burn. And steer clear of products containing benzocaine or lidocaine. These numbing ingredients sound helpful, but they can actually irritate sunburned skin and cause allergic reactions. Plain, fragrance-free moisturizer or pure aloe vera gel are your safest bets. Reapply several times a day, especially after bathing.
Take an Anti-Inflammatory Early
Sunburn is an inflammatory response, and an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory can help dial it down. Ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, taken at the first sign of sunburn, reduces both pain and swelling. The key is starting early. Your body’s inflammatory response ramps up in the hours after UV exposure, so getting ahead of it makes a noticeable difference. Continue taking the medication as directed on the label until the burn feels better, typically two to three days.
Drink Extra Water
Sunburn draws fluid toward the surface of your skin as part of the inflammatory process. This can leave the rest of your body mildly dehydrated, especially if you were already out in the heat. You may not feel thirsty, but increasing your water intake in the days after a burn helps your body heal. Oral rehydration solutions (the kind used for stomach bugs or sports recovery) are useful if you’ve been sweating heavily or the burn covers a large area.
What to Expect as Your Skin Heals
Sunburn typically follows a predictable pattern. The redness and pain peak within the first 24 to 48 hours. Around day three, as the swelling starts to go down, the outer layer of dead skin cells no longer fits snugly over the healing skin beneath it. That’s when peeling begins. Depending on severity, peeling can continue for a week or longer.
Resist the urge to pull or pick at peeling skin. The flaking layer is loosely protecting new, delicate skin underneath, and tearing it off early can cause irritation or open the door to infection. Instead, keep the area moisturized and let the dead skin shed on its own. A gentle, fragrance-free lotion applied regularly will soften the flakes and make the process less noticeable. Wear soft, loose clothing over burned areas to minimize friction.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most sunburns are uncomfortable but manageable at home. A few situations call for professional care. See a doctor if you develop large blisters, particularly on the face, hands, or genitals. Blisters that fill with pus or develop red streaks signal an infection. Worsening pain, severe swelling, headache, nausea, confusion, or eye pain also warrant a call.
Seek immediate medical care if your temperature reaches 103°F (39.4°C) or higher with vomiting, if you become confused, or if you show signs of significant dehydration like dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or very dark urine. These can indicate sun poisoning, a more serious reaction that sometimes requires professional treatment to resolve safely.