Most importantly, keep your sunburnt face out of the sun. As one of the most exposed parts of your body, this can feel like a challenge. Applying high-factor SPF and wearing a hat outdoors is essential for face sunburn treatment. These home sunburn remedies can be effective when managing mild and moderate cases, but you should be alert to signs that your sunburn could be more severe.

Blisters, swelling, a high temperature, nausea, dizziness or tiredness, headaches and muscle cramps can all signal that sunburn may be more serious. Shop now. Save article. Health Hub Home Beauty Skincare Suncare Natural sunburn remedies.

What happens to your skin in the sun? Here are four things to do if you experience sunburn: 4,5 1. Cool and calm the skin To soothe the burning sensation, take a cool shower or bath to calm your skin. Hydrate To support the repair of the skin barrier as quickly as possible, you need to stay hydrated, by drinking plenty of water and using hydrating moisturisers.

Prevent further sun damage Cover your sunburn from direct sunlight and avoid exposure to the sun until the skin is healed, and wear a high-factor SPF of at least factor 30 and with a UVA rating of at least 4-stars, to help limit further damage to the skin.

Shop Sun Lotion SPF. Aloe vera Before instinctively reaching for a bottle of after sun, you might want to try a natural remedy such as aloe vera, which can be great at soothing your skin.

Frozen peas Head to your freezer, find a bag of frozen peas or any other frozen vegetable and apply it to your sunburn. A cool shower A cool shower is one of the quickest ways of providing instant relief to your skin. Black tea Make some black tea using three or four tea bags , let it cool, then dab on your sunburn using a flannel or cloth.

Porridge oats Run yourself a cool bath and add some porridge oats. Raw honey Another way to help soothe your skin is to dab on some raw honey or spread it on a bandage and wrap it around the affected area. Shop Sun Care.

Things to avoid when looking for sunburn remedies: How to treat sunburn is not only about what you should do but also about what not to do. Soothing sunburn on your face: The same advice applies to your face as to any other areas of sunburnt skin, but you may want to think about simplifying your skincare regime while your skin is recovering.

What happens if your sunburn is severe? html 3. html 6. html 7. You can still dip in and out of waters from the lake, stream, or ocean. What you need to avoid is pool water because of its chlorinated component that will cause a sunburn's irritating reaction and potential infection.

Taking a bath with cool water can soothe sunburn, and adding these natural ingredients will improve your recovery. First, the vinegar will help ease the sunburned skin's pain and inflammation.

Second, the baking soda will relieve the burned skin's pain, irritation, and swelling. Lastly, the oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory components that will soothe itchiness. As you soak yourself in cold water, expect these natural ingredients to heal your sunburned areas.

These ingredients are highly recommended for severe sunburns. If you are already suffering from sunburn pain, it wouldn't be wise to keep exposing yourself to the sun especially when the burn severe. Any additional exposure would disrupt your healing process and lead to more burning.

To avoid sunlight, make sure to only go out when the sun is low on the horizon. If you will also be staying indoors to avoid the sunlight, you might as well get a lot of sleep.

Sleeping will help the body develop cytokines that will relieve the inflammation. As a result, the sunburn healing process will tend to accelerate. In treating sunburn, it is also important to drink a lot of water..

Sunburned skin is a sign of damage from getting too much sunlight. The ultraviolet rays reduce the moisture in your skin. Thus, there is a need to re-hydrate yourself by drinking plenty of water. This means following the usual eight glasses of water per day, which is also a minimum health requirement.

Also avoid soap, since it can be drying and irritating. After a bath or shower, pat your skin gently with a soft towel but don't dry it completely. Use a moisturizer to trap that leftover water in your skin to keep it from drying out more.

Aloe is a plant native to Africa. The long green leaves contain aloe gel, which research suggests has anti-inflammatory effects and speeds up your body's regeneration of damaged skin. It also moisturizes the skin and may help prevent peeling. As a folk remedy, it's long been used topically to soothe burned skin and to help heal wounds.

A lot of drug stores and health-food stores carry pure aloe vera gel. You can also use it right from the plant—cut off a spear, split it open, and rub the clear gel from the inside of the leaf on your skin.

Avoid the sticky yellow part. To make it extra soothing, you can put your aloe vera gel in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Aloe gel and other home remedies should not be used for severe burns or wounds. Those should be evaluated and treated by a medical professional. Plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar are popular sunburn remedies.

Although there's no scientific evidence behind this folk remedy, many people stand by it and you can find all kinds of claims about it on the internet. However, vinegar is acidic and can cause chemical burns if it's not diluted enough.

Some recommendations say it's safe if you use equal parts vinegar and water, but again, this is only backed by anecdotal evidence and not science. If you try this sunburn treatment, use caution. Suggested methods of using vinegar and water to soothe a sunburn include:. As with vinegar, a lot of people suggest putting a few tablespoons of baking soda into your bath water to help ease sunburned skin, but there's not scientific backing for their claims.

Baking soda is not an acid, though, and mixing a little in a tub of water won't burn your skin. You can find claims that baking soda can alleviate the inflammation of a sunburn and the itch that comes from peeling.

Some people say baking soda and water, mixed into a paste and slathered on, is effective as well. While some evidence does indicate that baking soda has anti-inflammatory effects , those effects come from drinking a baking soda tonic, not topical use.

Some essential oils, when used topically, are believed to have properties that may help alleviate sunburn symptoms. While research on essential oils isn't extensive, some evidence does suggest several may effectively reduce inflammation and promote healthy skin, which may offer benefits to sunburns.

These oils include:. Just because essential oils are natural products doesn't mean they're without side effects and risks, however. Always be aware of potential problems and discuss all treatment decisions with your healthcare provider.

Oatmeal baths have some scientific backing for their use in sunburns. While they haven't been studied specifically for sunburn pain and other symptoms, research suggests oatmeal has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant , and skin-repairing properties—all of which may benefit sunburned skin—that make it an effective bath additive for atopic dermatitis eczema.

You can buy commercial products made for oatmeal baths or make your own at home with a blender, oats, and water. Coconut oil is shown by studies to have numerous benefits to your skin. It's a:.

It hasn't been studied specifically for sunburns, but it's frequently recommended as a sunburn treatment. Some dermatologists online have raised concerns that coconut oil may irritate a sunburn or may trap in the heat and make it worse as happens with butter.

If you want to try coconut oil on your sunburn, it may be best to wait until most of the burn is gone and use it to help your skin heal.

The same hot, sunny conditions that lead to the worst sunburns can also dehydrate you, which can make it harder for your body to heal. A sunburn adds to dehydration because it steals fluids from other tissues around your body and draws them to the skin's surface.

Dehydration causes symptoms including:. Symptoms of severe dehydration warrant immediate medical attention. They are:. Drinking plenty of water and other liquids can help keep your body hydrated, functioning properly, and better able to heal from the sunburn.

Sunburns already can make it hard to sleep because of the pain, but when your bed absorbs the heat your skin is putting off and radiates that back out to you, it just makes everything worse. An alternative to consider when you have a sunburn is using an air mattress, as they retain less heat. You may want to cover the air mattress with a sheet to keep your damaged skin from sticking to the plastic.

Make sure you're using bedding made of fabrics that are soft, lightweight, and breathable—like cotton—so it doesn't add to your discomfort overnight. If you don't have an air mattress, you might want to try adding extra layers between you and the mattress on your bed. Also, do what you can to keep your bedroom nice and cool.

Clothes that fit snugly are likely to exacerbate your sunburn pain, so make sure to wear loose clothing. Elastic bands and scratchy fabrics are also things you'll probably want to avoid for a few days. You want your clothes to breathe so they don't retain heat from your skin, so try to choose lightweight, natural fabrics again, cotton is a good choice.

However, to protect your skin from UV rays when you're outside, make sure it's a tightly woven fabric. You shouldn't be able to see through it when you hold it up to the light.

Some research shows that polyphenols in food, consumed or used topically, may help provide protection from sunburn and skin damage from UV rays. Polyphenols that have been studied for this purpose come from:. If the DIY remedies around your house aren't doing the trick, you can pick up a few things at a grocery or drug store.

You may want to plan ahead and make sure these items are in your medicine cabinet before the pools open for the summer. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs like Advil ibuprofen and Aleve naproxen can help reduce the inflammation and pain from a sunburn.

However, aspirin may be the best choice because animal research shows it protects your skin from sun damage that can cause skin cancer. Taking one of these medications early can help prevent sunburn-related inflammation and the additional pain it can cause.

If your sunburn itches, you can use an itch-reducing powder made for treating rashes. You can apply it directly to your skin, add it to a bath, or put it in the water you use to make a cold compress.

Hydrocortisone cream is a good remedy for pain and itching. Just dab it onto the worst areas for a little relief.

Don't use it over large areas or on children unless directed to by a healthcare provider. Sometimes, what you shouldn't do is just as important as what you should do. Several things you might not expect to be a problem can exacerbate your sunburn symptoms.

Most perfumes, colognes, and body sprays contain alcohol, and alcohol can dry and irritate your skin. It's best to avoid fragrances when you have a sunburn. If you really want to wear some, try dabbing it on places that aren't burned rather than spraying it over large areas.

Also, some perfume ingredients may increase your sun sensitivity, so it's a good idea to skip them before you go out in the sun, as well.

Honey is a cleansing ingredient that will help keep the area of your skin clean and fresh. Although cooling the skin is essential, resist the temptation to apply ice directly to the skin, as this can damage the blood vessels in the area. Choose one with no fragrance and is water-based, like aloe vera gel.

Perfumes and heavy creams can make your sunburn worse by causing irritation. In addition, avoid products containing petroleum, and oil-based balms, as they could trap heat in the skin, potentially making your sunburn even worse.

The same advice applies to your face as to any other areas of sunburnt skin, but you may want to think about simplifying your skincare regime while your skin is recovering.

Bland is better when it comes to helping soothe sunburn on your face. Sunburnt skin is highly sensitive and more susceptible to irritation, so avoiding exfoliants and fragranced skincare is advised.

Substitute products such as retinol and alpha hydroxy acids with gentle moisturisers until your skin heals. You might also want to avoid wearing makeup whilst your sunburn heals, as this can delay the healing process of your burn.

Instead, try to let your skin breathe and heal. Most importantly, keep your sunburnt face out of the sun. As one of the most exposed parts of your body, this can feel like a challenge. Applying high-factor SPF and wearing a hat outdoors is essential for face sunburn treatment. These home sunburn remedies can be effective when managing mild and moderate cases, but you should be alert to signs that your sunburn could be more severe.

Blisters, swelling, a high temperature, nausea, dizziness or tiredness, headaches and muscle cramps can all signal that sunburn may be more serious. Shop now. Save article. Health Hub Home Beauty Skincare Suncare Natural sunburn remedies. What happens to your skin in the sun?

Here are four things to do if you experience sunburn: 4,5 1. Cool and calm the skin To soothe the burning sensation, take a cool shower or bath to calm your skin. Hydrate To support the repair of the skin barrier as quickly as possible, you need to stay hydrated, by drinking plenty of water and using hydrating moisturisers.

Prevent further sun damage Cover your sunburn from direct sunlight and avoid exposure to the sun until the skin is healed, and wear a high-factor SPF of at least factor 30 and with a UVA rating of at least 4-stars, to help limit further damage to the skin.

Shop Sun Lotion SPF. Aloe vera Before instinctively reaching for a bottle of after sun, you might want to try a natural remedy such as aloe vera, which can be great at soothing your skin. Frozen peas Head to your freezer, find a bag of frozen peas or any other frozen vegetable and apply it to your sunburn.

Find care now. Change Location Location. Urgent Care. Nearest location mi. Primary Care. Specialty Care. For specific health conditions. Immediate access to health care through MedStar eVisit.

Seek immediate care if you experience these symptoms after a sunburn: Fatigue Nausea Dizziness Headache With a severe sunburn, you may be in danger of dehydration, especially as we more frequently experience record-high temperatures. A severe sunburn can cause not only infection and permanent skin damage but also internal complications like dehydration.

Has your sunburn turned into a sun blister? Our Burn Center specialists are here to help. Call DOCS or Request an Appointment. Categories Dermatology MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Stay up to date and subscribe to our blog. Browse by Category View all Categories View all Categories Bariatrics Behavioral Health Cancer COVID Dermatology Gastroenterology Healthy Eating Heart and Vascular Innovation Living Well Neurology and Neurosurgery Orthopedics Physical Therapy Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Research Sports Medicine Transplant Urology Womens Health.

Drink water to help the healing. Oatmeal is a natural anti-inflammatory. Add it to a cool bath for a soothing soak. What to do for instant relief from a sunburn To start the healing and relieve the pain, take action as soon as you notice that your skin is burned.

Find some shade, go indoors, or at least cover your exposed skin with clothing, an umbrella or anything else that will block the sun. Drink plenty of water—right away and for a few days after—to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Take a cold shower or bath. While it might sting a little, a brief cold shower will lower the temperature of your skin and reduce inflammation. When to see a doctor for sunburn Most sunburns are first-degree burns, which cause redness and pain—and you can usually treat them at home.

How to treat sunburn symptoms Blisters. Apply cold compresses or moisturizer. Do not break open any blisters intentionally—this can cause infection.

If a blister does break open, clean the area with mild soap and water. Then apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the area with gauze. Try to avoid scratching the itch, as this will delay healing and could lead to a skin infection.

Try a one percent hydrocortisone cream or take an antihistamine. Pain and stinging. Take aspirin or ibuprofen and avoid exposing the skin to further sun damage. Hot skin. If your skin is hot to the touch, take frequent cool showers and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Peeling skin. Apply a moisturizer such as aloe vera. Home remedies for sunburn Cold compresses. Apply a clean, lint-free cold towel or washcloth several times a day for minutes.

Cider vinegar can promote healing and restore pH balance. To use this, add one cup of cider vinegar to a bath.