One of the few downsides of spending ample free time outside during the summer months is coming home and realizing that you've got a sunburn. Maybe you weren't as judicious with the sunscreen as you thought you were. Or perhaps you uttered the famous last words, "I never burn." In any case, you're now left with a lobster-red hide that makes wearing clothes nearly unbearable. Here's everything you should, and even more importantly, shouldn't do.
Do pop
some pills
For the next 24 hours, take two anti-inflammatory pain relievers (aspirin or ibuprofen), every six hours to help keep the pain in check and alleviate the burn's constant sting.
Don't take
a normal shower
Even Luke warm water can be painful on freshly sunburned skin. But a cool bath or shower can help reduce your surface temperature. Make sure to use a gentle soap like Kiehl's Body Fuel wash, which is packed with Vitamin E and cooling menthol.
Our Pick
Body Fuel,
$20 by Kiehl's
Do apply
a burn-relieving product
You want a cream or gel that will gently hydrate sun-parched and irritated skin. Depending on your level of redness (and pain) you can choose what might work best for you. Look for products with soothing ingredients like oatmeal or aloe and such proven hydrators as coconut oil. For extreme, painful burns, you want a spray that has a topical anesthetic in it like Lidocaine.
Our Picks
Aloe and Coconut Oil After Sun Soother, $4.36 by Burt's Bees
Aloe and Coconut Oil After Sun Soother,
$4.36 by Burt's Bees
Cool Aloe Burn Relief,
$9.99 by Solarcaine
Cool Aloe Burn Relief,
$9.99 by Solarcaine
Don't peel
the skin
We know, it's extremely satisfying. Like scratching a profound itch. But according to the best medical authorities, that dried skin is protecting the new, vulnerable layer underneath—and shouldn't be peeled off. Picking at your sunburn makes it easier for bacteria to enter your skin and opens you up to infection.