STYLE

Stop the inflammation

Before slathering on the aloe, hit up your medicine cabinet for an NSAID like ibuprofen. Not only will Ibuprofen help reduce any pain you’re experiencing but also keep swelling and redness at bay. 

Cool down

For your post-beach routine, keep the temperature of your shower as cool as you can. If a cold shower isn’t something you can handle, grab some cold compresses and apply them to the burned areas. If you’ve ever had a bad burn, you know that it hikes up your body temp causing major discomfort. 

Eat right and hydrate

As crazy as it might sound, what you eat will help your sunburn. Foods like salmon or almond butter are full of omega-3 that reduce UV-related cancer risk. Sipping a cup or two of green tea a day can also fight further skin damage. Sunburn takes a lot of moisture out of your body, so don’t forget to drink tons of water to replenish your body.

Lotion up

The Aloe Vera plant contains properties that’ll help to cool off your burn so look for a lotion that contains aloe while your burn is still pretty new (try The Body Shop’s Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion, $18, ulta.com). If you notice your burn starting to peel after a couple days, fight the urge to pick at it and apply a deep moisturizer instead. Picking at your burn can cause scarring so it’s best to leave it be and allow the healing process to finish. 

Give your skin a break

Even if you got a burn on your first day of vacay, it would be wise to avoid the sun. Sunburned skin is extra sensitive to the sun’s rays. So instead of laying out in the sun, find your spot under a beach umbrella. And don’t forget to bring at least an SPF 30 with you to the beach so you can reapply every two hours (we love Sun Bum’s Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30, $16, ulta.com).

How do you help your skin heal after a sunburn?  

by Mallory Walker | 2/1/2016