- 1). Take a cool shower or bath to soothe burning and reduce inflammation. You can add oatmeal flakes or vinegar to the bath water to speed the healing process.
- 2). Apply aloe vera to all burned areas of skin. Compresses of equal parts milk and cool water are also effective at relieving the pain. Use the compresses for 20 minutes at a time, and clean or replace them every few hours.
- 3). Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The Mayo Clinic states that anti-inflammatory medications are most effective when taken as soon as possible following sun exposure.
- 4). Use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and ease discomfort. Low-dose hydrocortisone creams are available in most pharmacies and grocery stores and are usually strong enough to treat mild sunburn.
- 5). Drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration and speed healing. Sun exposure causes fluid loss through the skin, and your body needs sufficient fluid to heal from the trauma of a skin burn.
- 6). Stay out of the sun and tanning beds until your sunburn heals. Exposing your skin to additional radiation before your burn heals may cause blisters and will significantly increase pain.
- 7). Visit your doctor if your sunburn blisters, you run a fever or you experience significant pain or swelling. Severe sunburns require medical treatment by a doctor. Your doctor may prescribe oral steroids, silver sulfadiazine cream or IV fluids.
- 8). Avoid breaking any blisters that develop, and never peel away skin unless told to do so by your doctor. Breaking blisters and removing live skin puts you at risk for infection.
- 9). Wash your hands before touching blisters or broken skin to reduce the chance of infection. Apply antibiotic ointment to open sores, and keep them covered with a sterile cloth.