10 Fast Ways to Treat Sunburn and Reduce Redness at Home

1. Take a cool bath or shower. - Keep the temp low and then lather on moisturizer as soon as you get out, the AAD advises. The cool H20 may help ease the pain and reduce the inflammation caused by the sunburn, and the lotion will help trap moisture and make your skin feel and look less dry.

2. Apply aloe. - Theres a reason why its the go-to after-sun product. Pure aloe vera gel — whether out of a bottle or straight from the plant — contains cooling and soothing properties. It can also potentially promote wound healing, according to the Mayo Clinic.

3. Use an ice pack or compress. - Wrap ice in a cloth before applying it directly to your skin, or soak a washcloth in cold water or milk and place that on the burn. The vitamins and antioxidants in milk can help your skin heal, says dermatologist Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, M.D., medical director of Mudgil Dermatology in Manhattan and Hicksville, New York.

4. Drink lots of water. - A sunburn draws fluid to the skin and away from the rest of the body, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Rehydrate by downing plenty of H20, or a low-sugar drink that has electrolytes. Dont try to hydrate by swigging margaritas, though alcohol can make the problem worse.

5. Dont pop any blisters. - Severe and widespread blisters require a doctors attention, but if you get a few, leave em be. Opening them up makes them vulnerable to infection, the AAD says.

6. Protect against further damage- If you need to go outside again, wear clothing that covers your skin and stay in the shade. Dont forget to apply lots of sunscreen as well — at least a shot glass-full for the body, a nickel-size dollop for the face

7. Try over-the-counter medications -

8. Skip heat-trapping products. - There are things you may be tempted to use on your skin that can make things worse because they trap the heat in. Not good. For this reason, the SCF says to avoid using oil-based lotions or petroleum products.

9. Also skip topical anesthetics - Products like benzocaine — in fact, any products that end in -caine — are best avoided right now, because they can further irritate the skin.

10. Switch up your skincare regimen - Its best to skip some of your usual skincare steps for now. Exfoliators and scrubs will just add to the pain and could further damage your skin same with toners. If youre using an acne medication, you probably want to talk to your doc about whether its a good idea to take a little break.

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