How to Get the Best Sunburn Relief and Protection

By Laura Bissessar

Ouch, getting a sunburn is no one’s idea of a good time. You didn’t intentionally mean for this to happen, and now it’s time to deal with the consequences. Fortunately, most mild to moderate sunburns can be dealt with at home. And while your skin is recovering, now’s the time to make sure that it’s taken care of beyond the initial sunburn relief. So, if you’ve mistakenly decided it was okay to bake in the sun for “just ten more minutes,” here’s what to do.

Assess and Get Sunburn Relief Fast

First, it’s important to note when you’ve gone past the point of taking care of a sunburn at home. Sunburn can start off with skin that’s pink or red, warm to the touch, and painful or itchy (keep in mind that redness is harder to see on dark skin). See a doctor if the sunburn progresses and shows signs of:

–       Severe burn, like blisters covering a large area

–       Sun poisoning, like fever, nausea, and severe dehydration

–       Infection, like swelling, pus, or red streaks that stem from blisters

Step #1 – Sunburn Treatment – At the first signs of sunburn, it’s officially time to avoid sun exposure, wear loose clothing, and prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated. Gently cool and soothe burns by taking brief, cool showers or applying a cool compress to the affected area. Note the word “cool” because using too cold items like direct ice may do more harm than good. 

When you’re not actively cooling your skin, apply a high SPF sunscreen like Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer SPF 50. This water-based sunscreen helps you avoid heavier creams that can worsen active sunburns. And it helps subdue that fiery skin with ingredients like mineral-rich algae extracts and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Remember to reapply!

Step #2 – Hydrating Damaged Skin – Drinking plenty of clear fluids to stay hydrated on the inside is just good life advice, but what about staying hydrated on the outside? An aloe vera or water-based moisturizer is ideal for helping the skin breathe and heal. Heavier, oil-based lotions and creams can actually worsen a sunburn, so make sure to read the labels. And for soothing sunburn relief on your face, the iS Clinical Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque will help you forget how uncomfortable your cheeks and forehead feel. It has a nourishing combo of aloe vera, green tea, and hyaluronic acid to calm and protect overworked skin.

And for a quick spritz of hydration, iS Clinical Copper Firming Mist will cool you down, especially when you’re on the go. It’s formulated with antioxidants that protect and is uniquely infused with copper, an essential trace mineral that supports skin health. Yes, treating yourself is the best sunburn relief!

Step #3 – Protection – Now’s the time to get serious. Experts say that even a few handfuls of sunburns throughout life can significantly increase the chance of getting skin cancer later on. And we’ve got enough on our minds already.

Protect your skin with regular use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of 30. And get a facial boost by looking for beauty products that offer additional protection, like the iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30. Your eyes can rejoice in tear-free freedom as this light cream provides anti-aging, broad spectrum protection for the most delicate part of your face. Keep this product handy for effective redness-reducing sunburn relief as well, just in case your sunglasses grew legs.

Next up, while you’ll want to wait until your skin cools down to put on makeup, bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 will be waiting to even out your skin tone. The details are in the name, as this popular, award-winning tinted moisturizer is perfect for boosting hydration and protecting against UVA and UVB rays. And they use only the clean ingredients that we love from bareMinerals. This dreamy, pigmented formula offers light, blurring coverage and is great for all skin types.

Step #4 – Repair – So your singed skin has peeled and healed, but the sun damage is done. Time to leave that noise behind and move forward by sticking to a skincare routine that moisturizes, protects, and repairs. If you find that your skin is suddenly looking dry and aged, incorporate a serum that will target fine lines and wrinkles. IMAGE Skincare’s The Max Stem Cell Serum is an excellent anti-aging face serum that revitalizes and protects skin with a powerful combo of Vitamin C, plant extracts, and a multi-peptide system. These ingredients also work together to boost collagen production and even skin tone, resulting in a more youthful appearance.

Or perhaps you’d like to increase that cell turnover to reveal a whole new you. An exfoliating serum with alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) will gently improve the skin’s texture over time. A formula with these acids, like Skinmedica AHA/BHA Cream, also targets signs of aging, so you don’t have to forgo one benefit for another. Use this product for as long as you need to see results.

So, how does one throw an anti-aging face serum into the mix? After your usual cleansing and optional toning, a little goes a long way with either of these products before moisturizing. And make sure to finish with an SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, especially when using AHAs. No need to repeat any vacation mishaps.

Other Ways to Get Sunburn Relief

We’ve heard this a lot – prevention is the best way to avoid overexposure. But we’re human, which is exactly why several home sunburn treatment methods exist. Other ways to calm itchy, inflamed skin are by adding oats or baking soda to a cool bath, applying the gel of an aloe vera plant to the skin, or using cooled chamomile tea for a compress. And try as you might to resist the delectable temptation to peel flaking skin. Finally, if you’re taking care of your sunburn and healing is not progressing, consult a medical professional.

When it comes to a serious topic like sunburn relief, LaLaDaisy cares that you make the most informed choices about our products. That’s why our Beauty Resource Center is here to keep you up to date about how to choose and use the best beauty products on the market. Head over there and get lost in all things beauty and wellness!