Sunburn treatment: What works?

What's the most effective sunburn treatment? When does sunburn require medical attention?

- Dana / Illinois

Answer

Unfortunately, there is no fast-fix sunburn treatment. Once sunburn occurs, you can't do much to limit damage to your skin. However, the following tips may reduce your pain and discomfort in the hours and days following sunburn:

• Take anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), on a regular basis according to the label instructions until redness and soreness subsides.
• Apply cold compresses — such as a towel dampened with cool tap water — to the affected skin. Or take a cool bath.
• Apply a moisturizing cream, aloe or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to affected skin. A low-dose (0.5 percent to 1 percent) hydrocortisone cream may decrease pain and swelling, and speed up healing.

Some dermatologists warn against using products that claim to relieve sunburn pain but may actually irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. These include topical "-caine" products, such as benzocaine.

Keep in mind that it may take four to six hours after sun exposure to know the full extent and severity of sunburn. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer. Also, breaking blisters slows the healing process and increases the risk of infection. If needed, you can lightly cover blisters with gauze.

Within a few days, your body will start to heal itself by getting rid of the top layer of damaged skin — the "peeling" process. Following this process, your skin may have an irregular color and pattern for a time.

Seek medical care for sunburn if:

• Severe sunburn covers a large portion of your body with blisters
• Sunburn is accompanied by a high fever or extreme pain
• Severe sunburn doesn't respond to at-home care within a few days

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