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.
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.
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.
Third-degree burns involve all of the layers of skin and sometimes the fat and muscle tissue under the skin. The skin may appear stiff, waxy white, leathery or gray.
For first-degree or second-degree burns smaller than about two inches in diameter, Saquib recommends the following these home treatment steps: Wash the area daily with mild soap. Apply an antibiotic ointment or dressing to keep the wound moist. Cover with gauze or adhesive bandage to keep the area sealed.
Management and Treatment
Covering your sunburned skin while it heals, especially when outside. Cool, damp cloths may help you feel better. Using topical cooling and hydrating gels and creams like hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel.
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.
Use a cool, damp compress
Simply apply this cold compress to the affected area to help numb pain, alleviate itchiness, and provide instant sunburn relief. However, while a cold compress can help heal the effects of a sunburn, you should not apply ice directly to your skin as it can cause further damage and pain.
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.
There's a myth that a hot shower can help ease sunburn pain—definitely don't do that! The opposite is actually true: Take a cool shower or bath to ease the burning sensation. “Cool water decreases excess blood flow to the skin, which will help reduce inflammation and redness,” Dr. Reddy says.
“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. ”
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.
If your sunburn is peeling, that means it is healing. This can be an itchy, somewhat painful process—but in some rare cases, the itch can be taken to a whole new level. This is known as hell's itch, or the devil's itch, which can feel like a deep, painful, throbbing itch that lasts for a few days after sunburn.
An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, others) might help relieve itching as the skin begins to peel and heal underneath. Apply a soothing medicated cream. For mild to moderate sunburn, apply nonprescription 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area three times a day for three days.
An aloe vera lotion or gel or calamine lotion can be soothing. Try cooling the product in the refrigerator before applying. Avoid products with alcohol. Drink extra water for a day.
“Aloe and soy have antioxidant properties, which can speed up the healing process,” Dr. Zubek says. Additionally, you can apply a cool compress to your skin and take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, to ease discomfort.
Pop an aspirin, ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to ease pain and reduce swelling. A hydrocortisone cream can help take the edge off, too. Slather on moisturizer. Whether your skin is newly burned or already peeling, moisturizer helps promote healing.
Purpura is common in older people. It is called solar purpura because it occurs most often on areas that are exposed to the sun. The bruises bother some people because of how they look. But they aren't serious.
Avoid touching your burn or placing clothing on your skin that can cause friction or rub against your wound. Take over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) as recommended by your provider if you experience pain. Change your bandage at least once daily.
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.
First-degree burns affect the outer (superficial) layer of the skin and don't always blister. Second-degree burns affect the outer and underlying layers of the skin and usually blister right away. Third-degree burns affect the deepest layers of the skin and may or may not include blisters.