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Even when you wear sunscreen and UPF clothing, sunburns happen. It’s tempting to start itching at pink skin, peel off flakes or pop blisters, but try to prevent yourself from doing so. The best way to treat sunburns is by using over-the-counter products like aloe vera gel, moisturizer and anti-itch cream, which soothe skin, address symptoms and encourage fast healing.
Below, I talked to dermatologists about the best sunburn treatments you can buy and rounded up their favorite options. Experts also shared how to know when to see a doctor, and their advice for preventing sunburns in the first place.
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What are the best sunburn treatments?
To recommend the best sunburn treatments, I curated a list of over-the-counter products that align with expert guidance (read more here). In addition to using some of the treatments below, dermatologists say it’s crucial to stay hydrated while recovering from a sunburn, so be sure to drink plenty of water. If your sunburn is severe or you feel ill, see a medical expert for further treatment.
Best aloe vera gel
All of the experts I talked with recommend treating sunburns with aloe vera, an ingredient known for its cooling, soothing and moisturizing properties. You can use Fruit of the Earth’s aloe vera gel on your face and body, and it dries clear once you rub it into skin. The gel is free from fragrance, alcohols and added color.
Best aloe vera lotion
If you don’t like the feeling of a gel, brands also offer aloe vera lotions like this one from Sun Bum. As aloe soothes skin, the lotion’s cocoa butter and vitamin E hydrate it to further promote healing. The lotion has a lightweight, non-greasy feel.
Best moisturizer
Peeling skin is part of a sunburn’s natural healing process. It’s your body’s way of getting rid of cells damaged by UV rays, and while it’s tempting, the worst thing you can do is pick it. Instead, apply a plain, unscented moisturizer to help the skin repair itself, says Dr. Michele Farber, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group. Dr. Mary Stevenson, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at NYU Langone Health’s Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, prefers treating sunburns with cream moisturizers sold in a pot, rather than lotions sold in a squeezy or pump bottle. Creams are thicker and more moisturizing than lotions, making them better for dry, inflamed skin, she says.
After trying over 100 moisturizers, the NBC Select team ranked Cetaphil’s Moisturizing Cream number one — it has everything dermatologists told me to look for when picking one to apply on sunburns, and you can use it on your face and body. It’s plain and unscented, per Farber, as well as thick, rich and sold in a pot, as Stevenson specified. The cream is formulated with glycerin, niacinamide and panthenol to preserve the skin’s moisture barrier, boost water retention and soothe irritation, according to the brand. It has a non-greasy feel, absorbs into skin quickly and is noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.
Best aloe vera spray
Moisturizers are also available as sprays, similar to spray sunscreen. Since moisturizer spray is more lightweight than a tub of cream, I find it easier to travel with. I keep a bottle in my beach bag in case my fair skin gets red after a day outdoors.
Vaseline makes a non-aerosol spray moisturizer with aloe vera that hydrates and soothes sunburned skin. After rubbing it in, the spray absorbs quickly and leaves behind a smooth, non-greasy, non-sticky feel.
Best anti-itch cream
Hydrocortisone creams help calm itching and irritation, and over-the-counter options are a great place to start when looking for sunburn treatments, says Farber. Cortizone 10’s cream is made with 1% hydrocortisone, the highest concentration allowed in over-the-counter products, and soothing aloe. It’s free from fragrances and dyes.
Best calamine lotion
Like hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion can relieve itching when applied to irritated skin, says Dr. William Huang, a board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. It also has a cooling effect and may help with peeling skin. This calamine lotion has a liquid consistency and is pink, so be careful about where and when you apply it — the lotion does not dry clear, so you see it on your skin, and it can rub off on fabric. However, cleaning it off surfaces is easy, in my experience, and it’s never stained anything I own.
Best cold compress
Farber says cold compresses can relieve inflammation caused by sunburns. This one has a nylon exterior, so you can apply it directly to your skin without wrapping it in a towel. The compress is flexible even when it’s frozen, allowing it to contour to multiple body parts.
What are the best treatments for blistered sunburns?
If your sunburn blisters, don’t pop or pick at the skin — dermatologists say that doing so can lead to infections or future scaring. Instead, they recommend trying the below treatments.
Best bandages
If your sunburn is just red and itchy, avoid bandages and stick to moisturizers, says Farber. But if your sunburn blisters, hydrocolloid bandages like these can promote healing and reduce scarring. They have a water-resistant seal and you can wear them for 5 days post application, according to the brand. The bandages are thin and flexible, so you can adhere them to any part of your body.
Best moist dressings
In addition to bandages, moist dressings like burn pads can help soothe and cool skin, as well as provide a barrier that keeps the area clean and moisturized, says Farber. Spenco’s 2nd Skin Moist Burn Pads have a high water content, and after placing them atop your blistering sunburn, you cover the pad with adhesive tape or stretch gauze. You can purchase the burn pads in small, medium and large sizes.
Best ointment
Petroleum jelly has occlusive properties, so it helps seal water into a disrupted skin barrier, says Farber. If blisters open into skin erosions, you can help prevent a secondary infection by applying Aquaphor to affected areas. The ointment is primarily made from petroleum jelly and is free from fragrances, preservatives and dyes.
How I picked the best sunburn treatments
Dermatologists recommend thinking about the following factors when shopping for sunburn treatments, all of which I took into consideration while curating the list of products above.
- Sunburn severity: How to treat your sunburn depends on its severity and whether there’s blistering, as well as signs of a secondary infection like pus, drainage, fever or chills, says Dr. Michael C. Cameron, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine. It’s best to apply a thick moisturizer to irritated areas for most mild sunburns and drink plenty of water, says Farber. She recommends aloe vera and cool baths to calm sunburned skin, and Cameron suggests taking ibuprofen to reduce swelling, redness and pain. However, deeper burns may require a doctor’s visit and more aggressive treatment. For example, a prescription-strength silver sulfadiazine topical cream is commonly given to patients with more severe burns, says Stevenson.
- Your symptoms: They determine what type of over-the-counter products are right for you, like those that target pain or itching.
- Ingredients: If you’re buying a topical treatment like a cream or ointment, experts recommend avoiding those made with fragrances and alcohols, which may cause further irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Prioritize mild options made with soothing, hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, soy and calamine, says Huang.
What’s the best way to prevent sunburns?
While the occasional, mild sunburn may not be a big deal, studies show that a history of sunburns — especially blistering sunburns — can increase your risk for skin cancers later in life. That’s why it’s important to focus on preventing them. Here’s how:
- Make applying sunscreen part of your daily skin care routine. Your skin may be damaged by UV rays even if you don’t have an obvious sunburn, so constantly wearing sunscreen (even inside) ensures you always have a layer of protection on your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology Association and the Skin Cancer Foundation recommend applying body and face sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection and a SPF rating of at least 30. Also, be sure to reapply sunscreen as directed on the product’s packaging, especially if you’re sweating or in the water. The rule of thumb for how often to reapply sunscreen is every two hours, according to our experts.
- Wear UPF clothing, hats and sunglasses to shade your face and protect your eyes.
- Avoid spending extended periods in the sun from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — UV light intensity peaks during this five-hour stretch, says Huang. If you have to be outside, seek shade.
Frequently asked questions
A sunburn is damage to your skin from exposure to excessive UV radiation, says Cameron. It’s an inflammatory response that occurs because UV radiation from UVA and UVB rays damages the DNA inside skin cells, thus leading to a sunburn and sometimes pigment formation (a tan), says Stevenson. “It’s your body trying to defend itself,” she says. “Everyone’s skin type is different, but if you’re getting color or burning, you are getting UV damage.” You can get a sunburn from the sun, as well as tanning beds, says Huang.
Different degrees of sunburns are determined by the depth of damage to the skin. There are three degrees of sunburns — these degrees apply to other types of burns as well, like those from chemicals or a fire. The deeper the sunburn, the more severe it is and the longer it takes to heal, says Huang.
- First-degree sunburn: A first-degree sunburn affects the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, says Huang. It’s usually red, warm and swollen, but it tends to heal within a few days. You may notice skin peeling as the sunburn heals, which is normal, he says.
- Second-degree sunburn: A second-degree sunburn involves the dermis, a deeper layer of skin. It tends to blister and can develop erosions, which usually heal without scarring, says Huang.
- Third-degree sunburn: A third-degree sunburn is rare, says Huang. It involves all layers of the skin and often takes weeks to heal, as well as requires medical attention.
Yes — the more fair your skin is, the more prone you are to sunburns, says Huang. However, anyone can get a sunburn, regardless or how fair or dark their skin is, and anyone can be at risk for skin cancer.
Sunburns can be dangerous to your short-term and long-term health, experts told us.
Short-term: Mild sunburns appear as skin redness and tenderness, while more severe sunburns can lead to a fever, chills or nausea. Overall, sunburns are dangerous because certain symptoms can affect multiple systems in the body. For example, extensive blistering and fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which impacts the body’s circulatory and nervous systems. If you begin to experience a fever, chills, nausea or fatigue, it’s time to see a doctor about your sunburn.
Long-term: “Sunburns can significantly contribute to your risk of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin,” says Huang. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in medical care, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, but consistently shielding yourself from UV rays can help prevent it, he says.
First thing first — try to avoid UV exposure as your sunburn is healing, says Huang. Don’t spend extended periods in the sun; if you have to, wear sun-protective clothing and sunscreen.
Next, stick to over-the-counter sunburn treatments and don’t experiment with home remedies, especially those that involve apple cider vinegar and witch hazel, which can irritate sunburned skin, says Farber. Also, don’t pop blisters or pull at peeling, flakey skin as your sunburn heals.
Meet our dermatologists
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Mary Stevenson is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at NYU Langone Health’s Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology.
- Dr. Michele Farber is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
- Dr. Michael C. Cameron is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine.
- Dr. William Huang is a board-certified dermatologist and a professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a reporter at NBC Select who has covered skin care for over five years, including topics like tinted sunscreen, ingrown hair, sunburns, razor burn and sunscreen for acne-prone skin. For this article, I interviewed four dermatologists about sunburn treatments and how to use them, as well as sunburn prevention strategies.
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