Sunburn

Sunburn

Home treatment measures may provide some relief from a mild sunburn.

• Use cool cloths on sunburned areas.
• Take frequent cool showers or baths.
• Apply soothing lotions that contain aloe vera to sunburned areas. Topical steroids (such as 1% hydrocortisone cream) may also help with sunburn pain and swelling.

A sunburn can cause a mild fever and a headache. Lie down in a cool, quiet room to relieve the headache. A headache may be caused by dehydration, so drinking fluids may help

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your fever or pain:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin Naproxen, such as Aleve or Naprosyn

Prevention

Avoid sun exposure

ways to protect yourself from the sun include wearing protective clothing, such as:

• Hats with wide 4 in. (10 cm) brims that cover your neck, ears, eyes, and scalp.
• Sunglasses with UV ray protection, to prevent eye damage.
• Loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Clothing made with sun protective fabric. These clothes have a special label that tells you how effective they are in protecting your skin from ultraviolet rays.

Sunscreen protection

If you can't avoid being in the sun, use a sunscreen to help protect your skin while you are in the sun.

Choosing a sunscreen

• Sunscreens come in lotions, gels, creams, ointments, and sprays. Use a sunscreen that:
  • Has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher.
  • Says "broad-spectrum" that protects the skin from ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays.

• Apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going in the sun.
• Apply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours while in the sun and afterswimming or sweating a lot.