The Best Treatments for Sunburn, According to Dermatologists

There are plenty of over-the-counter remedies for sunburns, but if you’re only going to choose one, the majority of the dermatologists we spoke to recommend hydrocortisone cream. Dr. Dhaval G. Bhanasuli of Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery says that cortisone helps “calm things down quick” after a burn. Dr. Michele Green, a Manhattan-based dermatologist, also recommended hydrocortisone, noting that you can get it either over-the-counter or as a prescription, and that it’s effective for “soothing pain and irritation from a sunburn.” Whether you go OTC or prescription should depend on the severity of the sunburn. “Prescription topical hydrocortisone creams can be very effective in treating sunburns,” says Dr. David Avram of Heights Dermatology and Laser in Brooklyn. “They are potent anti-inflammatory creams that can soothe sunburns rapidly. So if the sunburn is intense see your primary-care physician or dermatologist.” This Aveeno hydrocortisone cream, which other experts previously recommended to us for eczema relief, has oats and aloe (two sunburn-soothing ingredients we’ll come back to), making it an especially good choice.

One of the first things you should do after getting a sunburn is take a cool shower, according to many of the experts that we spoke to. A cold shower is “refreshing on sunburned skin, and won’t make your skin dry or cause further irritation,” says Green. If you’re more of a bath person, Kim Zimmerman, of Rescue Spa in Philadelphia, suggests spending some time soaking with St. John’s Wort Bath. You may have heard of St. John’s Wort as an herb that you can take orally for depression, but Zimmerman told us that, within the herbal-healing community, it’s considered a great topical treatment for sunburns (and other burns, too). The Susanne Kaufmann St. John’s Wort bath has sodium bicarbonate (a.k.a. baking soda), which Zimmerman says “helps regulate and balance the body’s pH” and cornstarch, which she calls “a way-back-when DIY remedy for sunburn.”

Popping an ibuprofen or other NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) can also be helpful if you have a sunburn, according to several of the dermatologists we spoke to. But don’t bother with any pills that promise to prevent sunburn, according to Dr. Jennifer MacGregor of Union Square Laser Dermatology, who notes that if you do take ibuprofen, you should only take it for “the first twenty-four hours after a sunburn.” Ebede seconds the ibuprofen recommendation, and says, “Ibuprofen or any NSAID works wonders for the swelling and inflammation.”

Sadick told us that after you apply the cool compress to your sunburn, you can moisturize with Sarna lotion, which will “expedite healing and further soothe the skin.” He also notes that Sarna’s ingredient list includes camphor and menthol, both helpful for healing burns. “Camphor helps to reduce itching and irritation while the menthol works to soothe and cool the skin,” Sadick says.

It wouldn’t be a list of sunburn treatments without the classic remedy: aloe vera gel. Bhanasuli says that he usually tells patients “just to grab 100% aloe gel from the local pharmacy.” He says that in general, the shorter the ingredient list, the better. “When skin is compromised, you want to minimize changes of irritation or allergy, so as they say, less is more.” This 100 percent aloe gel comes recommended by Rio, who included it in her list of preferred after-sun products.

“I like Sun Bum Cool Down After Sun Hydrating Gel,” says Avram. “This has aloe vera mixed with vitamin E and tea-tree oil. These all help reduce inflammation caused by the sunburn. It has a nice cooling effect when applied especially if refrigerated prior to application.” Sun Bum also makes a Cool Down After Sun Lotion, which was recommended by dermatologists for after-sun use (but not necessarily sunburn care).

Avram also recommends using CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion. The lotion “contains both hyaluronic acid and ceramides that help restore hydration to the skin,” which he says is “key after sunburns.” CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream was also recommended by a dermatologist we talked to about post-sun skin care tips, and other experts recommended the brand as one of the best makers of inexpensive sunscreens available at most drugstores.

Bhanusali seconds the hyaluronic acid recommendation, saying that when used over a large area it “works well to retain moisture and prevent water loss through the compromised skin.” He likes Neutrogena’s gel moisturizer with hyaluronic acid because it’s “light, works well, and is pretty inexpensive.” He suggests moisturizing three to four times a day: “Essentially, the more moist, the quicker the healing.”

If spray-on moisture is more your style, you might want to try this one. “I love Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray moisturizer,” Ebede says. “It’s easy to apply and keeps skin from feeling chapped and dry. When I suffered my own sunburn in Maui last year, I used this daily and it was a lifesaver.”

For something a little fancier, Zimmerman recommends Biologique Recherche’s cryo-sticks. “The main thing that the cryo-sticks do is help absorb some of the heat in the skin caused by the sunburn, which in turn can help to decrease inflammation,” she says. You can leave the cryo-sticks in your freezer so they’re always ready to use, and they can also double as a remedy for puffy eyes or cystic acne. Zimmerman says that you can simply “slather on some aloe and gently glide the cryo-sticks over the sunburned areas for relief and cooling.”