Using the pads (tips) of your fingers, gently apply the aloe to your sunburn.
Don't "rub it in" all the way, like you might with a regular lotion. Leave it a bit goopy and moist on top of the burn, as this helps prevent the skin from drying out and becoming more irritated.
Reapply as often as necessary.
Do not use cortisone cream on young children. Ask your pharmacist for advice if you have any doubts or concerns about using this cream.
1
Treat blisters. If your sunburn is serious, you might notice blisters beginning to form. Here's what to do about it:
Most blisters don't merit popping. Popping them prematurely can be painful, as well as possibly leading to infection and scarring. They shouldn't hang around for more than a few days, so resolve to grit your teeth and deal with it in the meantime.
However, if you do have a large blister that needs to be drained, pop it hygienically. Sterilize a needle with rubbing alcohol and water, and make a small hole at the edge of the blister. After you've drained all the fluid, pat the area dry with clean gauze. If you feel queasy or unsure about doing this, see your doctor.
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching blisters. Again, this is to prevent infection.
2
Use topical agents on the blisters. Some suggestions include:
Apply aloe vera, as you would in the section above.
Consider using antibiotic ointment (such as polymyxin B or bacitracin) on your blisters if you suspect infection. Infection might manifest as a foul smell, yellow pus, or extra redness and irritation around the skin. (Note that some people are allergic to these ointments, so do a "patch test" on an unaffected area first and make sure you don't have a bad reaction.)
3
Do not tear off the flaps of skin left over from broken blisters. You'll shed them soon enough; don't risk irritating your skin even more now
4
Cover blisters in a loosely-wrapped gauze bandage. After you've applied aloe vera or ointment to the area, put a bandage over it to prevent chafing against your clothes or anything else. Loosely apply a sterile piece of gauze over the area; use medical tape to secure.
Change the bandage once every day, or after it gets wet or dirty.
5
Wear loose cotton clothing over sunburned areas. Baggy t-shirts and loose cotton pajama pants are ideal clothing items to wear while you're recovering from a sunburn. If you can't wear loose clothing, at least make sure your garments are cotton (this fabric allows your skin to "breathe") and fit as loosely as possible.
Method 7 of 8: Responding to Possible Infections Quickly
1
If you're experiencing the following symptoms, your skin might be infected. Treatment could require the use of an antibiotic cream (see Step 6) or medical attention:
Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the blister
Red streaks extending away from the blister
Drainage of pus from the blister
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, armpit, or groin
Fever.
2
Know when you need to see a doctor. If you're experiencing the following symptoms in relation to your sunburn, seek medical attention immediately:
Feeling faint or dizzy
Rapid pulse or rapid breathing
Extreme thirst, no urine output, or sunken eyes
Pale, clammy, or cool skin
Nausea, fever, chills, or rash
Your eyes hurt and are sensitive to light
Severe, painful blisters.
Method 8 of 8: Unverified Home Remedies
1
Use Noxzema facial cleanser. Noxzema was originally devised to provide relief from sunburns.[3] Here's what to do:
Buy a 334 ml container (not a pump) of Noxzema Original cold cream. That particular formula is much more effective than the others.
Start applying Noxzema as soon as you get home and suspect a burn. Don't wait to see if it turns red.
Apply a thick layer of Noxzema to the affected area. You should be able to see a layer of white. Let it sit.
When most of the moisture has been absorbed by your damaged skin, apply more Noxzema on top. Do not rinse off, as doing so will just dry your skin out.
Continue applying Noxzema every 2 to 8 hours depending on the severity of the burn.
2
Try the tea method:
Brew 3 or 4 teabags in a pitcher of warm water. When the tea is almost black, remove the teabags and let the liquid cool to room temp.
Gently dab at the sunburn with a cloth soaked in the tea. Apply as much as you'd like, but don't wash it off. The more the better. If the burn is really bad, you can just dab at it with the teabags.
Try to do this at bedtime so it can do its thing overnight. Shower it off the next morning; you'll see and feel a big difference.
Be careful with clothing, as tea liquid stains.
3
Use a cool cloth dampened with skim milk. Rest it on the burned spots. The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort.
4
If the burn is very recent (still red and not peeling), apply the juice of a tomato to your skin. Tomato juice is acidic but it doesn't hurt and helps the redness. Note that eating tomatoes is probably more effective against being sunburnt than using them after the fact.[4]
5
Try calendula ointment. Calendula ointment is considered by some to be especially good for severe burns with blistering.[5] You can find it at a naturopathic store; ask the retailer or naturopath for advice. Be aware that no herbal treatment is appropriate for the treatment of serious injuries; if you have severe burns or blisters that won't heal, see a doctor immediately
6
Apply witch hazel lotion.[6] It's a good aloe alternative for soothing pain. Apply carefully to affected area and leave.
7
Try vinegar.[7] This method is only suitable for skin without ruptures of any sort; it is not suitable if you have abrasions on your skin. Apple cider is considered to be the best.[8]
Mix vinegar in a 50-50 dilution with cool water.
Soak towels in the solution (or place in a spray bottle).
Drape the towels over the burns or spray over the burned area. Note that the smell almost totally vanishes from your skin after about an hour.
8
Add ½ cup of baking soda or some oatmeal to a bath. This will help to reduce the swelling and if there is any itching present, these ingredients may reduce it.[9]
9
Try the apricot method.[10]
Peel and mash 3-4 apricots.
Apply the mix on your burn and leave on for 15 minutes.
Wash off with lukewarm water.
10
Use milk of magnesia.[citation needed]
Dampen a cotton pad or ball with milk of magnesia.
Apply to the affected area by padding on it. Do not rub.
Let it dry. The skin will be cooled. Repeat as often as needed.
11
Use cottage cheese. This is a fast and easy sunburn pain reliever:
On bare sunburn, place a dampened cool cotton cloth for 15 or 20 minutes
Remove the cloth. Do not dry! Apply the cottage cheese to the sunburn, enough to completely cover the burned area.
Replace the damp cotton cloth on top of the cottage cheese-covered burned area. Keep damp (a spray water bottle works well) and leave on for 2 or 3 hours.
Remove the cloth. Rinse off with cool water (use no soap). The spray water bottle works well for this, if you do not want to bathe. You should feel relief from the pain.