After a bad sunburn, cool the skin, moisturize, drink water, shield from sun, use hydrocortisone or ibuprofen for pain, and seek care for severe symptoms.
What To Do After Bad Sunburn At Home
A harsh burn from the sun hurts right away and then keeps nagging. Start with calm steps that lower heat and protect the barrier. Stay indoors or in deep shade. Loose, soft fabrics beat friction. Sip water on a steady loop often. Keep sunscreen off raw, broken areas until the skin closes. The rest of your day should revolve around cooling, moisture, and gentle pain control.
Begin with cool water. Short baths or showers help more than long soaks. Hop out, pat the skin dry, then lock in dampness with a light lotion made with aloe vera or soy. Skip thick ointments that trap heat.
Pain flares during the first forty-eight hours. An over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can take the edge off. Follow the label. If itch ramps up while skin peels, a short course of 1% hydrocortisone on intact skin can calm the sting. Do not use it on open blisters.
Blisters mean a deeper burn. Do not pop them. Place a clean, nonstick gauze pad over large ones and tape the edges, then leave them alone. Watch for signs of infection such as growing pain, pus, foul odor, or red streaks.
The next few days are about steady care. Reapply moisturizer often. Keep up fluids. Protect hurt areas from any extra sun with shade, clothing, or an umbrella. When you step out, dress the skin before you dress the outfit: smooth on broad-spectrum SPF on the parts that are not broken and keep damaged spots under fabric.
Sunburn First-Aid: Do This, Skip That
| Action | How To Do It | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cool The Skin | Short cool baths or wet cloths, 10 minutes, several times a day | No ice directly on skin |
| Lock In Moisture | Pat dry, then apply aloe or soy lotion while damp | Avoid petroleum or oil-heavy balms |
| Ease Pain | Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen as labeled | Skip topical anesthetics that end in “-caine” |
| Hydrate | Steady water intake and low-sugar drinks | Watch for dizziness or dark urine |
| Protect | Stay out of sun; wear UPF layers and a hat | Apply SPF on intact skin only |
| Blister Care | Use nonstick gauze; keep intact | Do not pop or peel |
Cool The Skin Safely
Heat trapped in the upper layers drives pain. Cool water pulls it down without shocking the tissue. Use a clean towel soaked in cool tap water as a compress. Lay it over red patches for ten minutes, then lift off. Repeat a few rounds each day. If you like baths, add a sprinkle of baking soda or oatmeal for comfort. Keep bath time short to avoid extra dryness.
Skip ice. Direct ice can worsen damage and deepen pain. The same goes for frozen gel packs. A chilled, damp cloth gives relief without risk. After each cooling round, seal the surface with a light moisturizer so water does not escape right away.
Clothes matter. Choose soft, breathable weaves. Tagless tees, loose pants, and airy dresses rub less. At bedtime, cool cotton sheets feel kind to tender shoulders and backs. If bedding sticks, dust on a touch of cornstarch around the edges of the rash to cut friction.
Moisturize And Soothe
The skin barrier needs water plus a light seal. Lotions with aloe vera or soy are steady picks. Calamine can settle itch. A colloidal oatmeal bath can help during the first day or two. Reapply lotion when the skin feels tight or looks dull. Keep a bottle in the fridge for a chill.
Avoid heavy occlusives in the first forty-eight hours. Thick petroleum jelly, oil-rich balms, or butter-dense creams can trap heat in the burn. Skip topical anesthetic gels with benzocaine or lidocaine. These can trigger rashes and make things worse. When itch rises during peel, use a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone on unbroken skin for up to three days, then stop.
What To Do After Bad Sunburn On Days 1–3
Pain and swelling peak early. Plan gentle blocks of rest. A nonsteroidal pain reliever like ibuprofen can help with ache and swelling. Acetaminophen helps with ache when anti-inflammatory drugs do not suit you. Take them as directed on the label. Drink water at regular intervals. Add oral rehydration salts if you feel woozy or crampy.
Face and lips can sting more. A lip balm with SPF 30 keeps split lips from flaring when you step outside. Wear a wide-brim hat and sunglasses that block UV. If the burn sits on your shoulders or back, go hands-free with a soft backpack or cross-body bag to avoid rubbing straps.
Sleep helps. Prop sore legs or feet on a pillow if they puff up. Keep the room dim and cool. A fan on low hums away heat without blasting the skin. If itch keeps you from sleep, an oral antihistamine at night may help. Check the label for drowsy effects and morning plans.
Blisters, Peeling, And Infection Watch
Blistering means deeper injury. Those clear domes protect the raw base while new cells grow. Leave them intact. Place nonstick gauze over large areas and use paper tape. If a blister breaks by accident, trim the dead flap with clean scissors, clean the area with mild soap and water, pat dry, then add a thin layer of plain petrolatum and a fresh nonstick pad.
Hands off peeling sheets. Let them lift on their own during a bath. After rinsing, smooth on lotion while the skin is still damp. This keeps thin new skin from cracking. Watch for trouble signs: fever, chills, nausea, worsening pain after day two, pus, spreading redness, red streaks, or swollen lymph nodes. These call for medical care.
Eyes can burn too. If eyes feel gritty, tear up, or turn bright red, wear sunglasses and rest them. If pain is strong or vision blurs, seek same-day care.
When To Call A Doctor
If any of the red flags below show up, plan a same-day visit or urgent care.
| Situation | Signs | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Extensive Burn | Blisters on large areas or deep redness over much of the body | Seek urgent care |
| Whole-Body Symptoms | Fever, chills, headache, vomiting, confusion, fainting | Same-day medical review |
| Dehydration | Thirst, dark urine, dizziness, fast heartbeat | Oral rehydration; go in if not improving |
| Infection Signs | Increasing pain, pus, red streaks, foul odor | Prompt medical check |
| Eye Involvement | Severe pain, light sensitivity, blurred vision | Eye care same day |
| High-Risk Groups | Infants, frail adults, or people with immune compromise | Call a clinician |
Protect Sunburned Skin While It Heals
Sun exposure after a burn hurts twice. Damaged cells handle UV poorly, and fresh skin marks faster. Stay in shade until the peel stage ends. When you must go out, use shade and layers. A long-sleeve UPF shirt, long shorts or pants, a broad-brim hat, and wraparound sunglasses set you up well. Pick loose layers. Rough seams scrape tender spots.
Sunscreen still matters on intact areas. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. Apply fifteen minutes before stepping out. Use enough. A shot-glass size amount coats an adult body. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or heavy sweat. Add SPF lip balm. For beards or hairlines, use a stick or clear gel to reach the skin. Keep sunscreen off open blisters and raw patches. Keep those under clothing or a clean bandage.
Prevention Tips For Next Time
Planning brings the risk down. Check the UV index in the morning. Book beach or pool time early or late in the day. Pick shade seats. Carry a compact umbrella. Pack a long-sleeve shirt, a hat, and sunglasses in your bag even on cloudy days. Water, sand, and concrete bounce light, so give yourself backup.
Sunscreen works best as part of a full plan. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is a sound base. Match the formula to the moment: water-resistant for swimming, lighter lotion or gel for daily wear. Put sunscreen on dry skin. Go heavy on often missed spots like ears, back of the neck, tops of feet, and backs of hands. Reapply every two hours. If you combine with bug spray, apply sunscreen first, then repellent.
Certain drugs and skincare can lift UV sensitivity. Common triggers include some antibiotics, acne treatments, and retinoids. Read the leaflet that comes with your product. If a rash flares faster than usual, ask a clinician about an alternate plan or timing adjustments.
Give skin time. A mild burn fades in about three to five days. A blistering burn can take a week or more. The color can linger longer on deeper complexions. Moisturizer use and gentle care speed comfort. If burns repeat often, book a skin check on a routine basis and tighten your sun plan.
Printable Care Card For Your Beach Bag
Keep a small card in your bag so you never freeze up in the moment:
- Get out of the sun. Cool rinse or compress, 10 minutes.
- Pat dry, then aloe or soy lotion on damp skin.
- Drink water now and steady sips all day.
- Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen as labeled.
- Place nonstick gauze over blisters; do not pop.
- Stay shaded; SPF on intact skin; reapply every two hours.
- Seek care for fever, vomiting, confusion, deep redness, or eye pain.
Two trusted guides on care and prevention sit here for quick reading in the mid-scroll of this page. See the dermatologist group’s sunburn first aid tips and the CDC’s page on sun safety facts. Both offer plain, practical steps.