A sunburn can be itchy, painful and nearly unbearable. According to the Mayo Clinic, a sunburn will usually appear within several hours after you are exposed to the sun. In most cases, sunburns can be treated at home, but in rare cases, a sunburn can be dangerous and require attention from a doctor. Otherwise, treat your sunburn with items around the house to moisturize your skin, prevent peeling and decrease the healing time of your sunburn.
Step 1
Apply aloe vera gel to the burn, suggests the Mayo Clinic. Purchase aloe vera gel at the drugstore, or buy a live aloe plant and remove the gel directly from the inside of the plant's leaves. Apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel directly to the skin every few hours, as needed.
Step 2
Take an over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. These medications, available at the drugstore or grocery store, will reduce pain and inflammation on the skin. Take over-the-counter pain medications exactly as indicated on the medication's label.
Step 3
Apply a wet towel directly to the sunburn, suggests dermatologist Michael Schreiber, M.D. Wet a clean bath towel in cold water, then apply directly to the skin for 15 minutes. If the towel gets warm, apply more cold water to the towel and place it on the skin again. Repeat three times a day until the pain from the sunburn subsides.
Step 4
Slather the sunburned skin with a moisturizer to prevent peeling. Moisturizers will help keep your skin from drying out and you can apply them as often as necessary. For pain relief, apply an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Drink water or a beverage containing electrolytes. Sunburned skin requires water to rehydrate and heal itself. Replenish the water your body lost by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day.
Step 6
Consult a doctor if sunburn pain is so extreme you are unable to eat or sleep, or if you develop a high fever. Your doctor can prescribe corticosteroid medications and a prescription pain reliever to help the pain, swelling and fever associated with a severe sunburn.
Tips and Warnings
- To prevent sunburn, wear sunscreen containing at least 30 SPF before going out into the sun.
- Do not pick, scratch or peel your sunburned skin.
Things You'll Need
- Aloe vera gel
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Towel
- Moisturizer
- Over-the-counter corticosteroid cream
- Beverage containing electrolytes
