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.
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.
"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.
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.
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."
