---
description: Sunburn treatment starts the moment you burn. Learn what to put on a sunburn, what helps ease the pain and when to see a doctor.
title: "Summer Vacation Slipups: How to Treat a Sunburn - The Skin Cancer Foundation"
image: https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/Sunburn.jpg
---

![Sun \& Skin News]()

# Summer Vacation Slipups: How to Treat a Sunburn

By [Ali Venosa](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/author/avenosa/) •  Published On: June 30, 2022 •  Last Updated: October 13, 2026

![sunburn](https://www.skincancer.org/wp-content/uploads/Sunburn.jpg)

#### Ah, summer break. It’s time to leave the daily grind behind and (hopefully) take some time to relax, enjoy yourself with friends and escape work or school for a little while. It’s natural for people to flock toward places that offer warm weather and sea breezes, but they may find themselves unprepared for the intense [ultraviolet (UV) rays](https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/uv-radiation/) that accompany that dreamy landscape.

Sun protection accidents happen, even to those who are usually vigilant about avoiding sun damage. But when you don’t take the proper steps to protect yourself, it’s possible you’ll develop a [sunburn](https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/sunburn/): especially if you’re near sand or water, both of which reflect the sun’s rays back at you, intensifying your UV exposure.

If you’re heading to the beach this summer [(or even just spending time in your own backyard!)](http://skincancer.org/blog/sneaky-ways-youre-being-exposed-to-the-suns-uv-rays/), make sure you know how to avoid sunburns in the first place — but also what to do if you *do* sustain one.

## **Prevention Is the Best Medicine**

Before hitting the beach, everyone should be sure to pack not only [ sunscreen](https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/) — The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using broad-spectrum products with an SPF of 50 or higher when spending extended time outdoors — but also a hat, sunglasses and [clothing](https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sun-protective-clothing/) to cover up with. Adequate [sun protection](https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/) is especially important for [kids](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/bringing-up-a-sun-safe-baby/) and young adults, since sun damage is cumulative.

“Childhood sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life,” says Linda K. Franks, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York. “However, if you’ve already suffered a few sunburns, you can lessen your chances of skin cancer by avoiding future burns on skin cells that are already vulnerable.”

Preventing sunburns altogether is by far the best way to avoid a very annoying and painful skin condition that also increases your skin cancer risk.

## **Stop Sunburn in its Tracks**

But what if you forget to reapply sunscreen, or accidentally leave your hat at home for the day? It happens — but even if you pledge to do better next time, you may already have gotten a sunburn. According to Dr. Franks, identifying a potential sunburn early can help lessen the ultimate damage.

“If you feel that your skin is burning, seek shade immediately,” she says. “The symptoms of redness and stinging are evidence that an inflammatory reaction has been triggered.”

The reaction is caused by direct damage to skin cells and their DNA by harmful ultraviolet rays. Dr. Franks explains that by turning off or lessening the inflammation, you can limit collateral damage to the skin.

“Prompt treatment is necessary,” she says. “Application of an anti-inflammatory steroid cream should be a first line of treatment. Medicines like Advil or Motrin, so-called ‘nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,’ or NSAIDS, will help, but you need to take them within the first few hours after the sunburn.”

In addition, be sure to avoid any further sun exposure, wear loose, breathable clothing and stay well hydrated. Drinking extra liquids is important because burns draw fluids to the skin’s surface. It’s possible to become dehydrated while a burn heals because these fluids are being pulled from other places in the body.

Over the next few days after a sunburn, cool baths and showers may relieve irritation and pain. To avoid drying, don’t stay in the water too long, and be sure to apply a water-based moisturizing lotion to still-damp skin. Avoid petroleum or oil-based moisturizers, as they may trap heat and make the burn worse.

## What to Put on a Sunburn

Reach for cool, not cold: a cool bath or damp compress takes the heat out, then apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to still-damp skin to lock in water. Aloe vera or a soy-based lotion soothes, and a short course of over-the-counter hydrocortisone can calm an especially uncomfortable patch. Avoid petroleum- or oil-based products, which trap heat, and skip “-caine” products like benzocaine, which can irritate skin or trigger a reaction.

### What Helps a Sunburn Heal

An anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or aspirin, taken early, helps with swelling, redness and pain. Drink extra water — a burn pulls fluid to the skin’s surface and can leave you dehydrated. If blisters form, leave them intact to protect the healing skin, and [see a doctor](https://www.skincancer.org/treatment-resources/find-a-dermatologist/) if blistering covers a large area or you develop fever or chills.

## **Bringing Burns to the Doctor**

Though anti-inflammatory medicines, moisturizing and hydration will gradually take care of most minor burns, sometimes the damage is serious enough to merit a trip to the doctor.

“The severity and depth of inflammation from sunburn can be equivalent to a second or third-degree burn,” Dr. Franks says. “Blistering and deep damage to the lower layers of the skin lead to loss of skin, infection and scarring.”

If you do develop blistering, especially over large areas, you should seek medical treatment from a professional. You should also visit the doctor if you feel woozy, feverish or develop chills after a sunburn.

The most important thing to remember during your recovery from a sunburn, however, is how to prevent another one! Dr. Franks recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher during this extra-sensitive time. Of course, this should be part of [a complete sun protection strategy](http://skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/) that includes covering up with clothing and seeking the shade, which will help keep skin protected and comfortable during summer vacation or any other time.

##### Categories

- [Ask the Expert](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/ask-the-expert/)
- [Child Sun Safety](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/child-sun-safety/)
- [Destination Healthy Skin](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/destination-healthy-skin/)
- [Healthy Lifestyle](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/healthy-lifestyle/)
- [Inside The Skin Cancer Foundation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/inside-the-skin-cancer-foundation/)
- [Monthly Newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/enews/)
- [News & Research](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/news-research/)
- [Skin Cancer Awareness Month](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-awareness-month/)
- [Skin Cancer Information](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-information/)
- [Skin Cancer Myths & Misinformation](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-cancer-myths-misinformation/)
- [Skin of Color](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/skin-of-color/)
- [Tanning](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/tanning/)
- [The Big See](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-big-see/)
- [The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/the-skin-cancer-foundation-journal/)
- [This Is Skin Cancer](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/true-stories/)
- [Why We Give](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/category/why-we-give/)

##### Follow Us

[Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/skincancerfoundation) [![x logo]()](http://twitter.com/SkinCancerOrg) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-skin-cancer-foundation/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/skincancerorg/) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/skincancerorg/) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/SkinCancerFoundation)

##### [Sign up for newsletter](https://www.skincancer.org/newsletter-sign-up/)

 

##### Popular Posts

- [Ask the Expert: Does a High SPF Protect My Skin Better?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/)
- [Why Does My Skin Peel When I Get Sunburned, and What Should I Do About It?](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/why-does-my-skin-peel-when-i-get-sunburned/)
- [DIY Don’ts: Why At-Home Mole Removal Is a Bad Idea](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/diy-donts-why-at-home-mole-removal-is-a-bad-idea/)
- [Amelanotic Melanoma: It Doesn’t Look Like Other Melanomas](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/amelanotic-melanoma-it-doesnt-look-like-other-melanomas/)
- [Ask the Expert: Painful Moles](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-expert-painful-moles/)
- [How Dangerous is Melanoma? It’s All a Matter of Timing](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/dangerous-melanoma-matter-timing/)
- [Sun Protection and Vitamin D](https://www.skincancer.org/blog/sun-protection-and-vitamin-d/)

![]()

[![candid logo]()](https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/248c6aa7-9ca9-4489-81b8-69bd7ed2f3d5)

Open menu

Menu

Close menu

SearchSearch

```json
{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/"},"author":{"name":"Ali Venosa","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/person\/2aeafb81ca97d6bd209b36c21bf21ef4"},"headline":"Summer Vacation Slipups: How to Treat a Sunburn","datePublished":"2022-06-30T10:56:55+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-13T13:41:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/"},"wordCount":919,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sunburn.jpg","keywords":["Prevention","Skin Care","Sunburn"],"articleSection":["Healthy Lifestyle"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/","name":"Sunburn Treatment: How to Treat a Sunburn Fast","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sunburn.jpg","datePublished":"2022-06-30T10:56:55+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-13T13:41:16+00:00","description":"Sunburn treatment starts the moment you burn. Learn what to put on a sunburn, what helps ease the pain and when to see a doctor.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sunburn.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sunburn.jpg","width":999,"height":508,"caption":"sunburn"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/treat-sunburn\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/skin-cancer-foundation-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Summer Vacation Slipups: How to Treat a Sunburn"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/","name":"The Skin Cancer Foundation","description":"Education, prevention, early detection, and treatment of skin cancer","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#organization","name":"The Skin Cancer Foundation","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/SCF-Logo-2025-4C.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/SCF-Logo-2025-4C.png","width":1199,"height":1254,"caption":"The Skin Cancer Foundation"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/skincancerfoundation","https:\/\/x.com\/skincancerorg","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/skincancerorg\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-skin-cancer-foundation\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/skincancer\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SkinCancerFoundation","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skin_Cancer_Foundation","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@skincancerorg"],"description":"The Skin Cancer Foundation saves and improves lives. We empower people to take a proactive approach to daily sun protection and the early detection and treatment of skin cancer.","email":"info@skincancer.org","telephone":"(212) 725-5176","legalName":"The Skin Cancer Foundation"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/#\/schema\/person\/2aeafb81ca97d6bd209b36c21bf21ef4","name":"Ali Venosa","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1710e9b1c191e8cfd92e77670f3c858fa69c52f212b311959db67cc1028c6ce0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1710e9b1c191e8cfd92e77670f3c858fa69c52f212b311959db67cc1028c6ce0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1710e9b1c191e8cfd92e77670f3c858fa69c52f212b311959db67cc1028c6ce0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ali Venosa"},"description":"Ali is the Program Manager for The Skin Cancer Foundation. She is originally from Upstate New York, but relocated to Manhattan after graduating from Lehigh University. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, Ali worked as a health and science journalist, covering everything from neuroscience to fitness fads. When she’s not busy managing Destination Healthy Skin, she’s probably reading a fantasy novel, sampling the pasta at a local restaurant or planning her next trip.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/author\/avenosa\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/blog\/author\/avenosa\/"}]}
```