When you have a bad sunburn, you might be willing to try anything to get some relief. The itchy, red, flaky skin can be anything from an annoyance to a severely painful experience. Thankfully, most sunburns can be cured with a few natural remedies that you can do at home. Seek medical attention if you show symptoms of dehydration or if your sunburn isn’t gone after 1 week.

Steps

Applying Topical Treatments

1. Rub aloe vera on your sunburn. Aloe vera is great for preventing sunburns and repairing sunburned skin. Purchase pure aloe vera gel or lotion that contains aloe vera and rub it directly on the affected skin. Or, cut a piece of aloe vera from the base of the plant and cut a slit down the center to expose the gel, then rub the gel on the sunburn.
   
   • You can find these products at most drug stores.
   • You can reapply aloe vera gel throughout the day whenever the sunburn begins to feel painful.
   • Consider keeping a few aloe vera leaves in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect.
2. Cool your skin down with a cold washcloth or shower. Dampen a washcloth with cold water from your sink and wring out the excess. Put the washcloth gently on your skin to relieve the pain and feeling of heat. Or, take a shower that is slightly colder than lukewarm to cool down your whole body.
   
   • If the spray from a shower is too painful for your tender skin, take a cool bath instead.
   • Don’t use freezing cold water, because it could be too harsh for your body. Instead, keep the water cool but not cold.
3. Avoid using benzocaine products, as they may cause an allergic reaction. Benzocaine is a local anesthetic that you apply topically. Although benzocaine products are sometimes marketed toward sunburn relief, they may actually irritate your skin or even give you an allergic reaction. Stick to aloe vera or calamine products for a natural, soothing remedy.
   

Healing Your Sunburn Quickly

1. Stay out of the sun as much as possible. Although it may seem obvious, your sunburn will heal much faster if you don’t aggravate it by exposing it to sunlight. Try to stay indoors or in the shade as much as possible until your sunburn is healed.
   
   • Depending on the severity of your sunburn, it could take up to 1 week to heal.
2. Drink water to stay hydrated. When your skin is burned, it doesn’t keep fluid in as well. Make sure you are drinking water whenever you are thirsty, and try to stay away from dehydrating liquids like coffee, soda, and alcohol.
   
   • Keep a water bottle nearby to drink out of anytime you get thirsty.
3. Peel your skin gently if it starts to flake off. After a few days, your sunburn may begin to shed its topmost layer of skin. This is a good sign, and it means that your sunburn is healing. Wash your hands with soap and water and then try gently pulling the affected skin off the area with your fingers to speed up the process.
   
   • Continue moisturizing as you peel your skin to aid in healing.
4. Avoid repeat sun exposure once your sunburn has healed. If you get sunburns often on the same area of your body, you could be at risk for premature wrinkling, dark spots, or even some types of skin cancer. Once your sunburn heals, use an SPF 30 sunscreen or higher anytime you are outside to prevent it from happening again.
   
   • If you have light, fair skin, you are more at risk for a sunburn.

When to Seek Medical Attention

1. See your doctor if you have red skin that doesn’t go away after 1 week. Red skin is a common symptom of sunburn. If you have red skin that won’t go away even after treating it, talk to your doctor to make sure there isn’t a more serious problem. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medicine to help you heal.
   
2. Get medical treatment if you develop a reaction after using a natural remedy. Even the most gentle of natural treatments can cause a reaction in some people. If you notice irritation or the signs of an allergic reaction after using natural treatment for sunburn, stop using the remedy immediately and see a doctor.
   
   • Seek emergency medical care if you develop severe allergic reaction symptoms such as rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, or if you feel like your throat may close up.
   • If you develop a painful rash, go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic.
3. Consult a doctor if you develop blisters on your body. Severe sunburn can include red skin and small blisters on the surface of your skin. If you develop big blisters over a portion of your body, it could lead to serious infection.
   
   • Do not attempt to pop or drain the blisters, or you could get an infection.
   • Avoid putting cream on the blisters.
4. Seek emergency treatment if you develop a skin infection. Look for pus, swelling, or red streaks leading from any blisters that develop. They could be signs of an infection and can be very dangerous. Go to an emergency room or an urgent care clinic immediately for emergency treatment.
   
   • Untreated infections can lead to serious health issues and death.
   • Do not attempt to drain any blisters that may be infected.
5. Get emergency medical care if you develop fever, chills, or dehydration. Being in the sun for too long can cause you to become dehydrated. If you develop symptoms of dehydration, you need to get to an urgent care clinic or an emergency room quickly.
   
   • Call an ambulance if you cannot drive to an emergency room.
   • Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, rapid breathing and heart rate, and dark-colored urine.
6. Go to a dermatologist if you develop new moles on your skin. Moles can sometimes become cancerous. Sunburn damages your skin and can lead to the development of cancer cells. When you’re treating your sunburn, keep an eye on any moles that you have. If you develop new ones or your changes in your existing moles, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
   
   • If your existing moles get larger, change shape, or become raised, go to a dermatologist.
   • See a doctor immediately if your moles become painful or swollen.
   • Pay attention to the color of your moles. If any of them turn darker or lighter, see a dermatologist.

Tips

• Although sunburns are itchy and painful, they usually go away within 1 week on their own.
• Topical treatments like essential oils, oatmeal, baking soda, and witch hazel are sometimes recommended for healing sunburns, but they are not scientifically proven and can actually cause skin irritation.

Warnings

• Seek medical attention if your symptoms don’t go away within 1 week.