Sunburn relief: How to help soothe skin

A day out at the park can easily lead to a “sunburn hangover,” which can include feeling achy and lethargic along with having patches of burned, painful skin. It happens even to people who thought they’d protected themselves with sunscreen.

“While sunscreen use is crucial, it won’t protect us completely from sun damage,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto. Sunscreen products need to be applied correctly — follow the product application instructions first, and reapply every two hours as needed when remaining out in the sun.

Sunscreen needs to be part of a complete approach. “Longer sleeves and high-neck shirts as well as sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats can help avoid ultraviolet rays reaching delicate skin,” advises Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a dermatologist and pediatrician at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, CA. For sun-protective clothing, look for fabric with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of over 30.

Even with these precautions, sun damage happens. When sunburn strikes, check out these ways to help get some relief over the course of the burn.

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How long does a sunburn last?

What causes a sunburn in the first place? Ultraviolet rays from the sun come in two harmful varieties. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays are so-called aging rays, which can lead to skin cancer and cause aging effects. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are what cause most sunburns and can also lead to skin cancer. It’s recommended to find a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both.

The pain and redness of minor sunburn typically subsides within a few days, “But that won’t be the case if you’ve seriously burned your skin,” says Dr. Yadav. “Severe sunburn can blister, bubble up and be painful for weeks.”

If any of the following symptoms occur, it’s advisable to see a health care provider:

• Any signs of infection, including red streaking, pus from blisters or a fever
• Blisters on the face, hands or genitals
• Blisters that cover large areas of the body
• Chills
• Confusion
• Eye pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Redness or pain that worsens despite at-home care
• Severe swelling
• Vision changes

Should the following, more serious symptoms occur, make a trip to the emergency room or call 911:

• Cold or dry skin
• Dizziness or faintness
• Fever and chills that do not resolve with a fever reducer such as ibuprofen
• Signs of dehydration
• Vomiting 

How to help find relief from a sunburn

While there’s no magic cure for sunburn, there are many ways to help relieve the pain and discomfort. Someone stuck at home nursing a painful sunburn should consider consulting a health care provider. They can offer advice about over-the-counter (OTC) and at-home options. Tried-and-true techniques include the following:

• An OTC pain reliever. Consider taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help reduce discomfort.
• Frequent cool showers or baths. These can help give some instant relief. Avoid using harsh or perfumed soaps when washing, though. Right after emerging from the water, gently pat skin dry, leaving a tiny bit of water on the skin, then apply a moisturizer. This can help ease the dryness that comes with a sunburn.
• Protecting sunburned skin. While healing, avoid re-exposing burned skin to the sun. Wear sun-protective clothing that covers the burned area whenever outdoors. Tightly woven fabrics are recommended.
• Staying hydrated. The sunburn draws fluid to the skin, away from the rest of the body, so drinking extra water can help avoid dehydration. 

Drugstore products to support sunburn relief

Can some find sunburn relief support products at the drugstore? Yes! A number of OTC products may help ease pain and manage symptoms.

• Aloe vera. Aloe is well known for its soothing effects on skin. “Buying a bottle of aloe at the drugstore and having it on hand is never a bad idea,” says Dr. Yadav. Dr. Shainhouse suggests storing it in the fridge for extra cooling relief.
  Consider CVS Health Aftersun aloe vera moisturizing gel.
• Hydrocortisone cream. A thin layer of hydrocortisone cream applied two to three times a day can help reduce redness and inflammation, notes Dr. Shainhouse.
• After-sun lotion and moisturizer. After-sun lotions often include aloe vera as well as other botanicals or ingredients.
  Some products in this category include Sun Bum Cool Down aloe vera lotion with cocoa butter.
• Moisturizer. Once the healing skin starts to shed, “use a gentle moisturizer,” says Dr. Shainhouse. As for particular ingredients, she says to consider coconut and shea butter to moisturize and products that contain ceramides to help restore the broken skin barrier. “If the skin can tolerate mild exfoliation at this point, look for lotions with hydroxy acids like ammonium lactate to gently remove the scale.”
  Some products that meet the mark: CeraVe moisturizing cream with hyaluronic acid and ceramides and Banana Boat moisturizing aloe after-sun lotion.
• Sunscreen. Prevention really is the best tool. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreens that have broad-spectrum protection and a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher every day someone is outside. If someone plans to swim, their sunscreen needs to be water resistant.

At-home options for sunburn relief

A cool — not cold — compress, for example, can help with relief. And staying hydrated may help with discomfort, because sunburned skin can swell, drawing water to the skin and potentially dehydrating the rest of the body.

If a sunburn strikes, remember to be patient. It may take anywhere from 7 to 10 days for skin to fully heal. It is strongly advised to avoid further skin damage. Staying indoors is the safest option, but if that’s not possible, wear sunscreen and sun protection, and avoid direct sun exposure during the peak hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.