Aloe vera gets all the attention, but several other remedies work just as well (or better) for sunburn relief. Cool compresses, colloidal oatmeal, soy-based moisturizers, over-the-counter hydrocortisone, and even plain Greek yogurt can all soothe burned skin, reduce inflammation, and speed healing. The best approach combines something to cool the burn, something to fight inflammation, and something to restore moisture.
Colloidal Oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is finely ground oat powder that dissolves in water, and it’s one of the most effective sunburn treatments you can find at a drugstore. Oats contain compounds called avenanthramides, natural antioxidants that directly suppress the inflammatory response in skin cells. That’s the same inflammation driving your redness, swelling, and tenderness.
You can add colloidal oatmeal to a lukewarm bath and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid hot water, which will intensify the burn. You’ll also find it as a key ingredient in many fragrance-free lotions designed for sensitive or irritated skin. Either way, the relief is noticeable within minutes, and repeated use over the first few days helps the skin recover faster.
Over-the-Counter Hydrocortisone Cream
For a sunburn that’s genuinely painful and inflamed, a 1% hydrocortisone cream is one of the most effective options available without a prescription. The Mayo Clinic recommends applying it to the affected area three times a day for three days. It works by dialing down the inflammatory cascade in your skin, which reduces redness, swelling, and that hot, tight feeling. Keep the layer thin and don’t use it on blistered or broken skin.
Anti-Inflammatory Pain Relievers
What you take internally matters as much as what you put on your skin. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) tackles sunburn inflammation from the inside. The key is timing: if you start taking it within six hours of the burn, it can significantly limit both pain and swelling in the days that follow. After that window, it still helps with pain but has less impact on the overall inflammatory response. Follow the package directions and take it every six to eight hours as needed.
Soy-Based and Ceramide Moisturizers
Sunburn strips moisture from your skin and damages the outer barrier that normally keeps it hydrated. Moisturizers containing ceramides help rebuild that barrier, while soy-based products are specifically recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology for sunburn care. Hyaluronic acid, another common moisturizer ingredient, pulls water into the skin and helps counter the dryness that sets in as a burn heals.
Look for fragrance-free lotions that list ceramides, soy, or hyaluronic acid in their ingredients. Apply generously while your skin is still slightly damp from a bath or shower, which helps lock in more moisture. You’ll want to keep this up for several days, even after the burn stops hurting, because the skin barrier takes longer to fully repair than the redness takes to fade.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is an astringent made from the bark and leaves of the witch hazel plant, and its active compounds, called tannins, have documented anti-inflammatory effects. These tannins suppress enzymes involved in inflammation and may even promote skin cell growth, which helps reduce irritation. Soak a cotton pad with alcohol-free witch hazel extract and gently dab it on the burned area. Some people mix equal parts witch hazel and aloe vera gel in a spray bottle and keep it in the fridge for a cooling mist throughout the day.
Cool Compresses and Cool Baths
Sometimes the simplest remedy is the most immediate. A washcloth soaked in cool water and draped over the burn provides fast relief by pulling heat out of the skin. Reapply every few minutes as the cloth warms up. Cool (not cold) baths work the same way on larger areas. Skip ice and ice packs, though. Putting ice directly on sunburned skin can cause frostbite on tissue that’s already damaged.
Greek Yogurt
This one sounds like an old wives’ tale, but there’s real science behind it. Greek yogurt contains lactic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties, and a high concentration of probiotics. Topical application of probiotics has been shown to decrease skin sensitivity and redness. Greek yogurt’s thick consistency makes it easy to apply as a mask on burned shoulders or a face. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse gently with cool water. The cooling effect is immediate, and the lactic acid helps calm the inflammation underneath.
Drink More Water Than You Think You Need
Sunburn doesn’t just affect your skin’s surface. It draws fluid toward the damaged skin and away from the rest of your body, which can leave you dehydrated even if you don’t feel especially thirsty. Start drinking extra water as soon as you notice the burn. Sports drinks or other electrolyte-containing beverages help replenish the minerals lost alongside that fluid. This is especially important for large burns covering your back, chest, or legs, where the total fluid shift is greater.
What to Avoid Putting on a Sunburn
Some popular remedies actually make things worse. Petroleum jelly and other oil-based products like butter or coconut oil trap heat in the skin and block pores, preventing sweat and heat from escaping. That can slow healing and increase the risk of infection. Save petroleum-based products for later in the healing process, once the heat and redness have fully resolved and you’re dealing with dry, peeling skin.
Numbing sprays and creams containing ingredients like lidocaine or benzocaine are also best avoided. These “-caine” anesthetics can be absorbed through damaged skin in unpredictable amounts, and sunburned skin absorbs more than intact skin does. They also carry a risk of allergic reactions, which would add irritation on top of an already inflamed burn. If you need pain relief, ibuprofen and cool compresses are safer choices.
Finally, skip anything with fragrance, alcohol (the drying kind, not witch hazel), or exfoliating acids. Your skin barrier is already compromised, and harsh ingredients will sting, dry it out further, and delay recovery.