A sunburn happens when an excessive dose of the sun's harmful UV rays penetrate your skin, which can occur whether or not you put on sunscreen. Sunscreen with a high SPF must be applied every few hours to be effective, particularly on very sunny days. If you're stuck with a sunburn, you can relieve the pain and irritation at home. If your sunburn is accompanied by other symptoms, like shaking and a high fever, consult a doctor for additional care.
Step 1
Rinse a towel in cool water; then apply the towel to the most painful areas of the burn. If the burn stretches across your entire body, place as many wet towels as necessary on your body to relieve pain. Wring out the wet towels periodically; rinse them with cool water and reapply.
Step 2
Place calamine lotion on the itchy areas of the sunburn three times a day, recommends University of Iowa Health Care. Calamine will help relieve itching and coat the burn, which will keep you from scratching your skin.
Step 3
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce pain, swelling and irritation due to sunburn. A sunburn may also be accompanied by a low-grade fever, which will also be temporarily reduced by one of these pain relievers. Take the medication every four hours, or as recommended by the label's instructions.
Step 4
Apply aloe vera gel to your sunburned skin several times a day to cool the burn and hydrate the skin. Cut open the leaf of an aloe vera plant and scrape out the inner gel to apply it to your sunburn, or purchase commercially available aloe vera gel.
Step 5
Drink water. When you are sunburned, your body is depleted of moisture as it uses the fluids in your body to heal the burned skin. To help a sunburn heal faster, drink plenty of water throughout the day, says the Mayo Clinic.
Tips and Warnings
- Moisturize your skin several times a day with an over-the-counter moisturizer to prevent peeling.
- Do not pop or squeeze blisters that appear on the skin due to a sunburn.
Things You'll Need
- Towel
- Cool water
- Calamine lotion
- Over-the-counter pain reliever
- Aloe vera gel
