A sunburn can be extremely painful, though you may not even notice that you are burned until several hours after the damage occurs. Pain from a sunburn can last several days and may interrupt sleep and other activities. Most of the time, a sunburn will heal on its own over several days, and you can simply focus on pain relief.
Identification
Identifying a sunburn and getting out of the sun is the first step in treating a burn. The first signs of sunburn are typically red, sensitive skin. Your skin may feel warm to the touch or appear swollen. More severe sunburns often begin to blister within a few hours. If you feel nauseous or develop a fever, seek medical attention--these are signs of sun poisoning.
Home Remedies
A cool bath or shower can provide instant relief. Make cool compresses by running chilled water over washcloths or towels and applying them to the burn for 10 to 15 minutes at a time several times a day when you need pain relief, Drugs.com recommends. Avoid sitting or lying directly on burned skin. If most of your body is burned or you cannot avoid putting pressure on your skin, try lying on clean cotton sheets to avoid excess rubbing.
Over-the-Counter Products
Aloe vera gel and over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams help keep your skin moist and provide instant relief of burning and pain. Apply several times a day. Keeping sunburned skin moist can help keep peeling and blistering to a minimum. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen to provide longer lasting pain control, but do not give aspirin to children.
Prevention
Getting burned even one time can increase your risk of skin cancer. Always use sunscreen when you have to be out in the sun and reapply it regularly, especially after swimming or excessive perspiration. Wear light-colored cotton clothes and try to stay in the shade as much as possible when you are outside for extended periods of time.
Warnings
Do not use butter, petroleum jelly or products containing lidocaine or benzocaine on a sunburn, according to Drugs.com. They can irritate the skin and increase pain. Avoid picking at peeling skin and blisters--this can delay the healing process. Keep your skin clean, but avoid using harsh soaps or scrubbing sunburned skin.
