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After the sun

You got burnt: what to do in the first 48 hours

What genuinely calms it, what makes it worse, and the line past which no cream is going to fix this.

This guide is about cosmetics and looking after yourself at home. Sunburn is an injury: if it's severe, what you need is a doctor, not a cream.

In short
  • Widespread blisters, fever, dizziness, confusion, or a baby or small child: that's a doctor, not a cream.
  • First few hours: out of the sun, lukewarm shower or cool compress, drink water, and something soothing on clean skin.
  • The next three days: moisturise several times a day, loose cotton clothing, and full shade — cloudy days included.
  • Don't pop the blisters, don't exfoliate, and don't start retinol, acids or concentrated vitamin C.
  • No vinegar, toothpaste, butter or essential oils on burnt skin.

When to see a doctor and stop reading

Go to a medical service if any of this shows up:

  • Extensive blistering, or blisters on your face.
  • Fever, chills, nausea or a bad headache.
  • Dizziness or confusion, which can mean heatstroke.
  • A very large burn, or a burn on a baby or a small child.

Nothing sold in a cosmetics shop, this one included, treats that.

The first few hours

  1. Get out of the sun and stay out of it until the redness goes.
  2. Bring the temperature down. Lukewarm shower or a cool compress, 10 to 15 minutes, several times. No ice straight on the skin.
  3. Drink water. A large burn dehydrates your whole body, not just your skin.
  4. Put something calming and cooling on clean skin: aloe gel or a light calming cream. Keeping it in the fridge helps a lot.

Aloe gel and a light calming cream. Straight from the fridge, they're worth it.

See what calms it

The next three days

  • Moisturise several times a day. Burnt skin keeps losing water for days.
  • Loose cotton clothing over the area.
  • Full sun protection, cloudy days included.

What makes it worse

  • Don't pop the blisters. They're the barrier keeping infection out.
  • Don't scrub or rub while your skin is red or peeling.
  • Don't start new strong actives. Retinol, acids and concentrated vitamin C go on pause until your skin is comfortable again.
  • Don't use kitchen remedies. Vinegar, toothpaste, butter and essential oils on burnt skin make the irritation worse.

Why it happens so much here

This close to the equator UV is high all year. Sand and water reflect it back at you and intensify it, and up to 80% of it goes through cloud. Most burns around here don't come from a day lying in the sun: they come from a five-hour tour with one application in the morning.

What people ask afterwards

How long does sunburn take to go down?

The redness and the sting usually ease between day three and day five. The peeling comes after that and can last another week. Pain stopping doesn't mean the skin has repaired.

Does aloe actually do anything?

It helps with how it feels: it calms, cools and puts water back. It doesn't speed up repair or stop the skin peeling. Cold from the fridge is half the effect.

Can I carry on with retinol or acids?

Not while the skin is red, tight or peeling. Pause them and start again when your skin is comfortable, at a lower frequency than you were on.

It doesn't hurt any more — can I go back to the beach?

Freshly burnt skin burns again much faster. Wait until the redness is gone, and when you do go back, go with full protection, clothing and shade through the middle of the day.

See what calms it · Find out which one is yours

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