For mild to moderate sunburn, apply nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area three times a day for three days. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying. Treat sunburned eyes. Apply a clean towel dampened with cool tap water.
Products like hydrocortisone, aloe vera gel, or Solarcaine will help cool off the skin and reduce redness. If you are shopping for sunburn treatment products: Aloe vera from a plant works slightly better than gel, but either one will help. Look for products that contain hydrocortisone or mentholated ingredients.
For Adults: How to Treat a Sunburn
Continue to cool the burn with cold compresses. You can use ice to make ice water for a cold compress, but don't apply ice directly to the sunburn. Or take a cool shower or bath, but not for too long, which can be drying, and avoid harsh soap, which might irritate the skin even more.
Second-degree burns (also known as partial thickness burns) involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin. The burn site appears red, blistered, and may be swollen and painful.
Apply Aloe
Aloe is a tried-and-true remedy that will soothe your sunburn almost instantaneously. This succulent is known for its moisturizing, cooling and anti-inflammatory effects, providing the much-needed relief you are after.
A color-correcting concealer will come in handy when you're looking to neutralize redness from sunburn. Sanchez says that a green corrector, like the green pigment in the NYX Professional Makeup Color Correcting Concealer Palette, will be your saving grace here.
Here's how to use honey for sunburn relief.
If you have honey on-hand after a long day in the sun, you can use it just like you would use aloe vera: Apply a thin layer of honey to the sunburned area. Rub in increasingly larger circles until covered. Sit still, relax, and allow your skin to absorb some of the honey.
Apply Aloe vera liberally
This handy plant naturally contains the anti-inflammatory properties and cooling sensation needed for instant sunburn relief. It also helps to rehydrate skin, quickening your recovery time and minimising that maddening itching!
The fingertip test. Fingertip test for checking that skin blanches which is a normal skin reaction. Skin that does not blanch when gently pressed is damaged. Remove finger and there should be a blanched (pale) area where the finger was.
Cool the burn. Hold the area under cool — not cold — running water for about 10 minutes. If this isn't possible or if the burn is on the face, apply a cool, wet cloth until the pain eases. For a mouth burn from hot food or drink, put a piece of ice in the mouth for a few minutes.
Although some people swear by a vinegar swear to relieve sunburn, this can actually make the problem worse. For blistered skin, a small amount of vinegar mixed with cool water can help to dry out the blisters. For a regular sunburn, however, the mild acidity of vinegar can further dry your skin, making the burn worse.
Your skin will get redder and more irritated, with pain peaking at about 24 hours after your burn. If you have a second-degree sunburn, you'll start to blister. Over the next week or so, your skin may peel and should gradually return to its normal shade. If you have a severe sunburn, this may take a few weeks.
Electrophoresis has been shown to be more effective than conventional masking or vitamin C supplementation. You can easily realize that your skin will be lightened compared to the sunburn or tanned before treatments. Vitamin C is one of the best ways to lighten and whiten your skin after sunburn.
Apply hydrocortisone cream.
Hydrocortisone has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it will reduce redness and ease the pain of mild sunburns, says dermatologist Coyle S. Connolly, D.O., of Connolly Dermatology in New Jersey. “Use 2 or 3 times a day,” depending on the severity of your burn, he says.
Most first-degree burns don't require medical attention, says Saquib. He recommends rinsing the burn area with cool water for five to 10 minutes or until the pain subsides. Next, apply a moisturizing lotion and if needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever for a few days. If the pain doesn't subside, see a doctor.
Hell's Itch is an inciting dermatologic reaction that can occur after sun exposure and is often characterized by symptoms such as intense pain, itching, paresthesia, and suicidal ideation.
“A sunburn is the result of acute damage to the skin due to immediate overexposure to UV rays and does not transition into a tan. A tan is a more gradual process that develops as the skin responds to UV and tries to shield it from further harm. ”
NEOSPORIN® Burn Relief First Aid Antibiotic Ointment helps relieve minor burn pain while allowing burns to heal properly by preventing infection. This topical first-aid ointment features a maximum-strength, no-sting formula to help soothe and reduce pain of minor burns, such as cooking burns.
Should I let my second-degree burn air out? You should keep your burn covered for the first few days after the event as you let your skin heal. Make sure your blisters stay closed on your skin. If a blister breaks open, you should keep your burn covered with a bandage to prevent an infection.
You should seek medical attention — same day or urgent care — for first- or second-degree burns if the burn is larger than two to three inches or the burn is on your face, scalp, genitals, hands, feet, or major joints.