How to Get Rid of Sunburn Fast

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Fact Checked

Treating sunburns is harder than preventing them. However, half of all U.S. adults aged 18 – 29 report experiencing at least one sunburn per year.^{[1]
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American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists

Go to source} To get rid of sunburn fast, immediately take a cool shower, treat the burn with aloe or a deep moisturizer, and keep your skin hydrated by drinking more water in the days that follow; use other home treatments, like cold compresses, moistened/cooled tea bags, and pain relievers, as needed to ease discomfort and promote healing. All sunburns cause damage to your skin, so you should also work on avoiding them in the future.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Immediate Treatments

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1
Upon realizing you are burned, get out of the sun immediately. Each second of additional sun exposure will worsen your burn. Going indoors is best. But if this is impossible move into the shadiest nearby spot.
- Beach umbrellas provide little protection from UV rays unless they are very large and made of dense fabric.
- Sun exposure to can occur even in the shade, as UV rays reflect off surfaces and penetrate through everything from clouds to leaves.^{[2]
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2
Take a cool shower or bath. The water will cool your skin and may help reduce the severity of your burn. Avoid using soap because it will irritate and dry out your skin. Afterwards, let yourself air-dry. Using a towel may cause discomfort and chafing.
- If you must use a towel, pat your skin lightly rather than rubbing it ^{[3]
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3
Apply an aloe vera gel or deep moisturizer.^{[4]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Spread it across your sunburn to moisturize and cool your skin. Repeat this step frequently, or at least twice daily, to reduce dryness and peeling.
- You may also use a lotion or gel that contains Vitamin C and E, as this may reduce skin damage.^{[5]
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- Avoid products that are oily or contain alcohol.
- If you have access to an aloe vera plant, you can obtain gel straight from the leaves. Simply cut off a leaf, slice it length-wise with a knife, squeeze out the gel inside, and apply it to your burn.
- Gel obtained directly from an aloe vera plant is extremely concentrated, natural, and effective.
4
Drink plenty of water. Prolonged sun exposure and heat causes dehydration. A sunburn also draws water to your skin’s surface and away from the rest of your body. ^{[6]
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Research source} Remember to drink extra water for the next few days.
- Go beyond the daily recommendation of eight glasses of water until your sunburn has healed, especially if you continue to be in hot weather or participate in sports or other activities that cause you to sweat.

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Conventional At-Home Treatments

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1
Make a cold compress and apply it your sunburn.^{[7]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Wrap several ice cubes or a freezer pack in a wet cloth. Then lightly press the cloth against the sunburned area for 15 to 20 minutes multiple times a day.^{[8]
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- Remember that ice or other frozen substances should not be pressed directly against your skin. Doing so may cause an ice-burn and only make matters worse.
2
Consider taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil). Ibuprofen will reduce pain, swelling, and redness, and may even prevent some long-term skin damage.^{[9]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Once started, continue taking this medication for 48 hours ^{[10]
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- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may relieve the pain of a sunburn, but does not have the same anti-inflammatory effects as ibuprofen.
3
Change into loose fitting clothing. Avoid fabrics that are rough or itchy. For most people, light cotton is best.
- Protect your sunburn by keeping it covered when you go outside. Wear a hat, carry a parasol, and wear fabrics that are tightly woven.
- In addition, make sure you wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and reapply ever two hours.^{[11]
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  Mohiba Tareen, MD
  FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
  
  Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.}
4
Close your blinds and try to lower the temperature of your home. If you have air-conditioning, turn it on. Even without air-conditioning, fans can significantly reduce your body temperature, especially when they are blowing directly towards your sunburn.
- Basements are the best places in a home to recover from sunburns, as they are generally cool and protected from sunlight.

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Natural At-Home Treatments

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1
Steep several black tea bags in hot water. Allow the water to cool (add ice to speed up the process). Remove the tea bags from the water and place them directly on your sunburn. The tannins in the tea will help reduce inflammation. You can also apply the cool tea to the entire area of the burn.
- Tannins are a natural astringent, and studies show that they help to heal burns and prevent infection.^{[12]
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2
Pour 1 cup of plain yogurt into a bowl. Mix with 4 cups of water. Dip a wet cloth in the yogurt mixture, and apply it to your sunburn for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat every 2 to 4 hours.
- Plain yogurt contains many probiotics and enzymes that will help to heal sunburned skin.^{[13]
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- Make sure the yogurt is truly plain rather than vanilla, which contains unwanted sugar and fewer probiotics.
3
Generously sprinkle at least one cup of baking soda into a cool bath. Soak in the bath, and after exiting let the baking soda solution dry on your skin. It will soothe the pain and help heal your skin
- Baking soda has both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it will help reduce inflammation and prevent infection..
4
Pass cold water through a sieve containing dry oatmeal, and collect the water in a bowl.^{[14]
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Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Discard the oatmeal and soak up the solution with a cloth. Use the cloth to apply the solution to your sunburn every two to four hours. ^{[15]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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- Oatmeal contains chemicals known as saponins which will clean your skin while moisturizing it at the same time.^{[16]
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  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What can I use to treat a painful sunburn?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

For immediate relief, try applying pure aloe gel to the affected area. You can also try soaking in an oatmeal bath or holding a cold compress against your sunburn.

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Question

Can I go back in the sun after having sunburn?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

No, I would not return to the sun. If you have to go outside again, wear a high SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen that covers both UVA and UVB sunlight. In addition, you will want to wear cotton clothing to cover the body, as well as a a hat.

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Question

What can I do to make the unbearable itching on my sunburn stop?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

You might want to take an antihistamine or cetirizine. Apply aloe liberally.

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Tips

Do not use butter, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), or other oil-based products to moisturize. They may block your pores, prevent heat from escaping, or cause infections.

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Vinegar and cotton balls. Put vinegar in the cotton balls and apply to the burned area. This will remove the redness and sooth the sting.

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Ensure that the lotions or gels you apply do not contain alcohol, which can dry out the skin.

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Warnings

In severe cases, you may need to seek medical attention. If you get fever or flu-like symptoms, you may have sunstroke — a potentially serious condition.

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Taking hot showers may be painful with your sunburn.

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Visit the doctor if sunburn blisters cover a large portion of your body or if a blister gets infected.

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