You know the drill: Wear sunscreen even on days when it’s cloudy, reapply it every two hours and try staying out of the sun during peak hours on extremely hot days. But, let’s face it, even the most committed sunburn preventionist can’t escape the potential that one day it might happen. Additionally, that sunscreen that you depend on religiously to protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, might not be living up to its SPF promise.
“The idea behind a mineral or physical blocker is to provide a layer that protects by deflecting and scattering UV rays,” explains Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York. “However, if the product is not applied generously and in all places, then UV light can get between the molecules.”
When you first notice you’ve gotten burned, the best thing you can do for sunburn relief is to head indoors or seek shade. Unfortunately, you can’t magically get rid of a sunburn or reverse the damage to your skin, but you can take steps to relieve the redness, pain and swelling associated with sunburn. So we picked the brains of top dermatologists to learn the best ways to get some sunburn relief. Unless your sunburn is severe, in which case you should call your doc or 911 ASAP, head to your local drugstore for one of these quick-fix sunburn treatments that can soothe and even speed the recovery of your sunburn.
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This article originally appeared on TotalBeauty.com
9 Derm-Approved Drugstore Sunburn Treatments
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CVS Health
Ibuprofen 200mg, $3.52 at CVS
According to S. Manjula Jegasothy MD, founder of the Miami Skin Institute and clinical associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, there's no greater sunburn treatment than a full pediatric or adult dose (depending on the patient's age and size) of aspirin, Advil, Aleve or Ibuprofen every 8 hours for 24 hours, starting immediately after the sun exposure. "These medications are all known to reduce fever and mild muscular or joint pain by decreasing prostaglandin levels, which are inflammatory proteins released by our immune system," she says. "While these prostaglandins do help in fighting certain aspects of disease, such as infections, their side effects include fever and mild muscle or joint pain. In addition, inflammatory prostaglandins are released when skin is exposed to DNA-damaging amounts of UV radiation (sun exposure) theoretically to minimize long-term skin damage."
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Bio Oil
Specialist Skincare Oil, $14.99 at Walmart
If not properly treated, sunburned skin can lead to dry skin and pronounced lines and wrinkles. For this reason, Engelman urges her patients to treat their burn as soon as possible with vitamin E-containing products that help heal the skin. Her go-to is this one from Bio-Oil, which contains vitamin E to neutralize free radicals and is also packed with vitamin A, which works with the skin to promote cell regeneration. "Lavender oil, chamomile oil, calendula oil and rosemary oil help invigorate and condition the skin, ultimately providing calming and hydrating benefits that improve the appearance of new or old scars and stretch marks."
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California Baby
Aloe & Arnica Cream, $18.40 at Amazon
"Aloe vera-containing products can help soothe the skin and also have a cooling effect," says Tania Elliott, MD, chief medical officer at EHE. "Be sure, though, that aloe is the only main ingredient, the addition of other ingredients that numb the skin can trigger allergic skin reactions that prevent healing." California Baby Aloe & Arnica Cream contains aloe as the main ingredient along with a slew of other skin-soothing savers such as arnica and calendula, which instantly cool the skin. Dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, and contributor to cosmetic treatment site RealSelf loves this brand. "It also contains a number of essential oils that have a range of benefits from antioxidant and anti-inflammation to moisturizing," she adds.
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Aveeno
Soothing Bath Treatment, $6.97 at Walmart
Baths can be incredibly effective for cooling down the skin and inflammation that accompanies sunburn, says Gary Goldfaden, MD, dermatologist and founder of Goldfaden MD. Luckily, you don't have to DIY your own formula, you can just head to your local drugstore and pick up one specially created to soothe your skin, such as this one from Aveeno. "The colloidal oatmeal coats the skin with a protective barrier while the potent polyphenols in green tea are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that may help hasten the resolution of a sunburn," says Melanie Palm, MD, dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, medical director of Art of Skin MD and assistant clinical professor at University of California San Diego.
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Heliocare
Dietary Supplement, $27.78 at Walmart
While these supplements are more for preventative use than for the purpose of treating a sunburn, they can seriously come in handy to arm your skin with a proper defense against the sun's harmful rays. "This fern extract from the plant, Polypodium leucotomos, is a potent antioxidant supplement that confers additional protection against the UVA spectrum of sunlight, which tends to promote long-term sun damage, melanoma and delayed sunburns," explains Palm. "The point of this supplement is take it before you head out the door." Though it's not a substitute for sunscreen, she does recommend it to her weekend warriors, melanoma and skin cancer patients, melasma patients and those who burn easily or are looking for added protection.
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Vaseline
Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion, $8.49 at Target
"When you get a sunburn, ultraviolet rays from the sun cause damage to your skin cells, leading to inflammation and skin barrier disruption," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "The goal of treating a sunburn is to help calm the inflammation, enhance skin hydration and repair the damaged barrier." For these reasons, he recommends applying a protective seal over the skin with a light lotion that's fragrance-free, like this one from Vaseline. He also suggests avoiding heavy ointments that can trap heat from leaving the body.
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Dove
Deep Moisture Body Wash, $5.94 at Walmart
Hadley King, MD, dermatologist at Skinney Med Spa and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, recommends a cool shower as a first line of defense against a sunburn. Instead of scrubbing with harsh cleansers that can further dry out the skin, she suggests a gentle soap substitute like Dove Nourishing Body Wash. This mild cleanser, which was formulated for dry skin, can help soothe and heal sunburn skin while you shower. When you get out, King recommends applying moisturizer after patting your skin dry carefully.
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Banana Boat
Moisturizing Aloe After Sun Lotion, $4.97 at Walmart
If you're already in a sunburned state, the most important thing you can do is keep your skin cool and comfortable while your body repairs or replaces the damaged skin. For Jerome Garden, MD, director of the Physicians Laser and Dermatology Institute in Chicago, the best product is Banana Boat Soothing Aloe After Sun Gel, which he says is effective and cheap. "Aloe is soothing and the gel provides moisture while allowing the skin to breathe," he adds. "Keep it in the fridge for even more cooling effect."
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Coola
Ecocert Radical Recovery Organic After-Sun Lotion, $32 at Sephora
Lily Talakoub, MD, dermatologist at McLean Dermatology and Skincare Center in McLean, Virginia, likes Coola's after-sun lotion, which is made with aloe to soothe the skin and lavender oil, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. "This lotion calms sunburns and cools the skin after a day in the sun," she says. "It's also organic, which is a plus!" For additional healing, she recommends Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water, $14. "The copper-zinc-sulfate complex in this product is unbelievable for healing sunburns that blister or peel excessively," she adds.
