Sunburn Relief: Your At-Home Guide for How to Get Rid of Sunburn

Don’t forget your sunburned lips or scalp, either. “The lips can be treated the same way as the skin,” says Dr. Patel, who suggests moisturizer like Vaseline or Aquaphor to seal in moisture and repair the skin barrier. Dr. Jamal’s favorite product for sunburn relief is Biafine emulsion, which is prescription-only in the U.S. (If you’re in France, you can pick it up in stores.)

“To get more relief, consider putting these products in the fridge prior to application for a cooling effect,” says Dr. Fahs.

Drink lots of water.

Drinking water and staying hydrated is just as important as applying moisturizer, and this is especially true if sunburn blisters have developed. This is because, according to Dr. Patel, large blisters pull water from the skin. So drinking lots of water and covering those fluid-filled blisters is necessary to prevent dehydration.

Take medication.

Sunburns come with a lot of redness and pain; anti-inflammatories like Advil can help take it down a notch. All the dermatologists we spoke with suggested pain medication for sunburn relief, as long as it’s safe for you to take. If you’re not sure, speak with your doctor first.

Apply cortisone cream.

Cortisone cream can calm inflammation and keep skin from feeling itchy, but Dr. Jamal says it’s an especially important step for those with skin of color. Says Jamal, “For skin of color, sunburns may resolve with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so I would advise using a cortisone cream or lotion, preferably prescription strength, twice daily until symptoms resolve to reduce the chance of skin discoloration.”

Keep your skin protected.

Doctors say keeping a sunburn covered and protecting it from the air—especially if it has blistered—will speed up healing, but it’s important to protect it from the sun as well. “To further avoid discoloration, it’s very important to keep fresh skin beneath a sunburn completely sun-protected,” says Dr. Fahs.

Treat blisters right.

“Second-degree burns result in blisters, which are fluid-filled pockets under the skin,” explains Dr. Patel. “When the skin has formed a blister, it’s okay to let it pop and the fluid to come out. The skin under the blister is very tender and raw, as the nerves are exposed to the air.” Covering the area can help with both healing and pain; however, “it is best to not pull the whole roof off, as this can affect normal skin as well.”

Using a thick moisturizer over the area can help skin repair faster, Dr. Patel says. If you have large blisters and are prone to scarring or hyperpigmentation, a dermatologist can help guide your treatment. Again, this is especially a concern for skin of color.

No picking!

When sunburned skin starts to heal, it typically begins to peel as dead skin sloughs off. Resist the urge to peel it. “Peeling the skin before it’s ready can increase the chances of discoloration and scarring,” says Dr. Fahs.

Instead, Dr. Patel has some advice: “It is best to gently exfoliate with a washcloth and repair the barrier with a thick moisturizer on damp skin.”

Apply sunscreen liberally

While skin is healing it can be extra sensitive to the sun, so be mindful of your UV exposure and apply sunscreen frequently. This is a must even after your skin has healed: Every burn increases your chance for skin cancer and premature aging, so start applying sunscreen ASAP and start taking other steps to protect skin from the sun.