Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSkin TreatmentsDietFabricsOTC MedicationsThings to AvoidWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Skin Treatments
Diet
Fabrics
OTC Medications
Things to Avoid
When to Seek Care
When you have a sunburn, home remedies can deliver relief. Even mild sunburn can cause redness, pain, and skin inflammation for a few days. You may also itch as it heals, especially if your sunburned skin peels off.
Aloe vera gel or a cooling essential oil may soothe the pain. Anoatmeal bathcan help to soothe the itch, while loose-fit clothing can prevent additional irritation. If you want to try an over-the-counter medication, options include pain relievers and ointments.
Justin Pumfrey/ Getty Images
1. Cool Baths or Showers
Brief baths, showers, and towel compresses (hydrotherapy) used periodically throughout the day may help your sunburned skin cool down and keep it hydrated. Avoid hot water and soaps that can cause pain and strip the natural oils from the skin.
After a bath or shower, pat your skin gently with a soft towel but don’t dry it completely. Use a moisturizer to trap that leftover water in your skin to keep it from drying out more.
2. Aloe Vera Gel
Studies suggest aloe gel has anti-inflammatory effects and speeds up skin healing.It also moisturizes the skin and may help prevent peeling.Purealoe veragel is widely available, or you can rub clear gel directly from the plant. Refrigerating the gel can make it cooler.
Sundaemorning / Getty Images
3. Topical Vinegar
Plain white vinegar orapple cider vinegarare popular sunburn remedies. Still, there’s no research evidence to support its use and some experts warn of its potential to burn skin because of its acidic composition. Diluting the vinegar may reduce the risk.
4. Baking Soda Baths
As with vinegar, a lot of people suggest putting a few tablespoons ofbaking sodainto your bath water to help ease sunburned skin, but there’s not scientific backing for their claims. Baking soda is not an acid, though, and mixing a little in a tub of water won’t burn your skin.
While some research evidence does indicate that baking soda has anti-inflammatory effects, those effects come from drinking a baking soda tonic, not topical use.
5. Essential Oils
Some essential oils, when used topically, are believed to have properties that may help to alleviate sunburn symptoms. These oils include:
Essential oils should be used with a carrier oil, like coconut, almond, jojoba, or olive oil.
Just because essential oils are natural products doesn’t mean they’re without side effects and risks, however. Always be aware of potential problems and discuss all treatment decisions with your healthcare provider.
6. Oatmeal Baths
Research suggests oatmeal has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and skin-repairing properties—all of which may benefit sunburned skin. It also has uses as an effective bath additive foratopic dermatitis(eczema).
You can buy commercial products made for oatmeal baths or make your own at home with a blender, oats, and water.
Jelena Irikova/ Getty Images
7. Coconut Oil
It hasn’t been studied specifically for sunburns, but it’s frequently recommended as a sunburn treatment. However, some dermatologists warn that coconut oil may irritate a sunburn or may trap in the heat and make it worse (as happens with butter).
If you want to try coconut oil on your sunburn, it may be best to wait until most of the burn is gone and use it to help your skin heal.
8. Foods
Certain foods may offerprotective nutrientsto help with healing sunburn or preventing sun damage. These foods include:
Look for foods that add carotenoids and polyphenols to the diet. Fruits and vegetables (often orange, red, and yellow foods, like carrots and butternut squash) account for most of the 40 or 50 carotenoids that people consume.
Polyphenolsare found in a wide range of vegetables, such as broccoli and carrots, as well as dark chocolate, berries and citrus fruits, nuts and beans, and spices like turmeric and parsley.
Protective PolyphenolsSome research shows that polyphenols in food, consumed or used topically, may help provide protection from sunburn and skin damage from UV rays. Polyphenols that have been studied for this purpose come from:Greenandwhite teaCocoaRomanian propolisScotch heather (Calluna vulgaris)Grape seedsHoneybushPeruvian ginseng/maca (Lepidium meyenii)
Protective Polyphenols
Some research shows that polyphenols in food, consumed or used topically, may help provide protection from sunburn and skin damage from UV rays. Polyphenols that have been studied for this purpose come from:Greenandwhite teaCocoaRomanian propolisScotch heather (Calluna vulgaris)Grape seedsHoneybushPeruvian ginseng/maca (Lepidium meyenii)
Some research shows that polyphenols in food, consumed or used topically, may help provide protection from sunburn and skin damage from UV rays. Polyphenols that have been studied for this purpose come from:
9. Water
The same hot, sunny conditions that lead to the worst sunburns can alsodehydrateyou, which can make it harder for your body to heal. A sunburn adds to dehydration because it steals fluids from other tissues around your body and draws them to the skin’s surface.
Dehydration causes symptoms including:
Drinking plenty of water and other liquids can help keep your body hydrated, functioning properly, and better able to heal from the sunburn.
Severe DehydrationSymptoms of severe dehydration warrant immediate medical attention, which include:ConfusionFaintingGoing long periods without urinatingRapid heartbeatRapid breathingShock(weak pulse, loss of consciousness, sweating, pale skin, cool hands and feet)
Severe Dehydration
Symptoms of severe dehydration warrant immediate medical attention, which include:ConfusionFaintingGoing long periods without urinatingRapid heartbeatRapid breathingShock(weak pulse, loss of consciousness, sweating, pale skin, cool hands and feet)
Symptoms of severe dehydration warrant immediate medical attention, which include:
10. Sleep Environment
An air mattress retains less heat than most regular beds and may be less irritating to skin that’s sunburned. Use bedding made of fabrics that are soft, lightweight, and breathable—like cotton—so it doesn’t add to your discomfort overnight.
If you don’t have an air mattress, try adding extra layers between you and the mattress on your bed, and keep your bedroom cool.
11. Loose Clothing
Clothes that fit snugly are likely to exacerbate your sunburn pain, so make sure to wear loose clothing. Elastic bands and scratchy fabrics are also things you’ll probably want to avoid for a few days.
Natural fabrics like cotton are a good choice. To protect your skin from UV rays when you’re outside, make sure it’s a tightly woven fabric. You shouldn’t be able to see through it when you hold it up to the light.
12. Pain Relievers
Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) can help reduce the inflammation and pain from a sunburn. In addition, animal research suggests that aspirin protects your skin from sun damage that can causeskin cancer.
Taking one of these medications early can help prevent sunburn-related inflammation and the additional pain it can cause.
13. Hydrocortisone Cream
Sometimes, what you shouldn’t do is just as important as what you should do. Several things you might not expect to be a problem can exacerbate your sunburn symptoms, including:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should get medical attention for a sunburn if you have:
If you experience shortness of breath, heart rate changes, dehydration, or confusion and dizziness, seek immediate medical attention.
How Long a Sunburn Will Last
The duration of a sunburn depends on its severity.
Peeling often doesn’t begin until the burn itself has subsided and usually occurs between five and seven days after the burn starts.
Summary
Sunburn can often be treated with home remedies and over-the-counter medication. Prevention also is important and can include polyphenols in the foods you eat and proper hydration.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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