Skip to content

Main Content
Footer
Search
  • Sign up to our Newsletter
  • Get in Touch
  • FAQ
  •  
Vaseline logo
      • Explore All Products
    • BY CATEGORY
      • Body Lotions
      • Body Crème
      • Lip Care
      • Protecting Jelly
      • Sun Protection
    • BY SKIN CONCERN
      • Dry Skin
      • Very Dry Skin
      • Sun Damage
      • Dull Skin
      • Uneven Skin Tone
      • Other...
        • BY CATEGORY
        • Body Lotions
        • Body Crème
        • Lip Care
        • Protecting jelly
        • Sun Protection
        • Light Moisturizers
        • BY SKIN CONCERN
        • Dry Skin
        • Very Dry Skin
        • Sun Damage
        • Dull Skin
        • Uneven Skin Tone
      • All Products
    Vaseline Sensitive Skin Relief Front of Pack

    Vaseline® Sun + Pollution Protection SPF 30 Body Lotion

    People are loving
      • Explore All Articles
    • SKIN CONCERNS
      • Dry Skin
      • Very Dry Skin
      • Sun Damage
    • SKIN CONCERNS
      • Dull Skin
      • Uneven Skin Tone
      • Other..
        • SKIN CONCERNS
        • Dry Skin
        • Very Dry Skin
        • Sun Damage
        • Dull Skin
        • Uneven Skin Tone
      • All Articles
    woman stretching her arms

    Up-Close Look at Dry Skin and How Moisture Heals It

    All you need to know
    'woman smile outside

    How to Get Rid of Chapped Lips

    All you need to know
      • Mission
      • History
      • Ingredients
    • About Vaseline
    • person jumping under a blue sunny sky
      Mission
    • Vaseline's early advertisments
      History
    • lab glass with liquid dripping
      Ingredients
  • Skin Health for All
    • FAQ
    • Get in Touch
    • Sign up to our Newsletter

How to Soothe a Sunburn

  1. Home
  2. All Articles
  3. How to Soothe a Sunburn
HowToSootheASunburn HeroImage Image29

How to Soothe a Sunburn

Looking for advice on how to soothe a sunburn? Read on to discover simple home remedies for easing sunburn, as well as advice on how to prevent sunburn.

 

Most of us enjoy relaxing on the beach on a hot summer’s day, but it’s important to take care in the sun. Sunburn is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which can damage the skin. UV radiation can damage molecules in the skin, leading to the body drawing more blood to the surface of the skin to help with the healing process. As a result, sunburned skin can appear red and swollen, and feel hot, itchy and sore.

 

Furthermore, this damage results in an increased loss of moisture through the skin surface leading to dry, sunburned skin peeling after a few days. Small blisters might also form as the skin tries to heal itself and protect the affected area. These signs are an important part of the healing process, so it’s essential to care for your skin appropriately at this time. If your signs of sunburn are severe, or you have burned a large proportion of your skin you should consult your doctor.

 

If you want to know how to help sunburn, we’ve gathered some useful information on caring for and soothing minor sunburned skin.

 

  1. Sunburn Relief on the Go
    It is important to take care of sunburned skin quickly. Some actions that may soothe your sunburn and protect your skin until you get home are:

    • Stay out of the sun / cover up
    • Take care not to knock or touch the sunburned area
    • Have a bottle of water on hand. When you’ve been out in the hot sun all day you’re also more likely to get dehydrated
    • Reapply sunscreen. It’s not always possible to stay inside after you’ve been sunburned, so be sure to reapply sunscreen to prevent further damage

  2. How to Soothe Sunburn
    When you’ve got minor sunburn you can expect to experience some, or all of the following signs. Here's some ideas on things you can try to help relieve the symptoms of sunburn. Remember to always consult a doctor for severe sunburn.

    Skin Redness – When your skin gets burned it becomes inflamed. Something you can try at home is using cold compresses to cool burned skin, which may help reduce inflammation and minimize skin redness.

    Skin Dryness – When the skin is sunburned, it loses moisture. Keeping the skin moisturized helps you to maintain smoother looking skin during the healing process when skin can appear flaky. For a mild burn, apply a gentle moisturizer to your skin, such as Vaseline® Jelly to hydrate, soothe, and lock in moisture. Vaseline® Jelly is used to heal dry skin and protect minor sunburns as it creates a barrier that seals in moisture and helps keep out any impurities that could cause further irritation. Remember to always consult a doctor if you have concerns about taking care of more severely sunburned skin.

    Sunburn Itch – If your sunburned skin starts to peel, it can become very itchy due to the associated dryness. A soothing moisturizer, like Vaseline®Jelly may help but also, try to avoid picking or scratching your skin as it peels. We know it can be hard, but scratching could make it worse. Applying a cold compress to the affected area or taking a cool bath may also help provide sunburn itch relief. If you do take a cold bath, remember to gently dry off and moisturize to help lock in moisture.

  3. How to Prevent Sunburn
    Now that you know how to relieve sunburn, it’s also a good idea to understand how to prevent your skin from burning in the future.

    • Try to stay out of the sun when the rays are the strongest – typically between 10am - 4pm.

    • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen of SPF 30 or more – always remember to reapply sunscreen regularly if you are in the sun for long periods of time.

    • Cover up your skin with breathable fabrics so you stay cool and protected at the same time. You could also opt for High-UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) clothing. The fabrics these are made from are specifically designed to be more sun-protective than everyday clothing, yet still cool and lightweight.

    Remember, taking care in the sun and regular moisturization after being in the sun are two of the best ways to keep your skin looking healthy all year round.

    Expert Advice
    The advice in this article does not constitute medical advice, it is solely available for information purposes.

Related Articles

  • DIY Skin Care for Face and Body | Vaseline
    DIY Skin Care for Face and Body
    DIY Skin Care for Face and Body Read More
  • 79% of Women Think Face Care Matters More Than Body Skin Care | Vaseline
    79% of Women Think Face Care Matters More Than Body Skin Care
    79% of Women Think Face Care Matters More Than Body Skin Care Read More
  • 9 Simple Tips to Help Treat Dry Skin on Elbows | Vaseline
    9 Simple Tips to Help Treat Dry Skin on Elbows
    9 Simple Tips to Help Treat Dry Skin on Elbows Read More
  • How to Get Healthy-looking, Beautiful Skin | Vaseline
    How to Get Healthy-looking, Beautiful Skin
    How to Get Healthy-looking, Beautiful Skin Read More

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Vaseline Sun Protection SPF 50 Body Lotion 100ML packshot

Vaseline® Daily Sun Protection SPF 50 Lotion

VASELINE VASELINE SUNSCREEN LOTION 100.000 ML
		
		
		
			
                   
Vaseline Healthy Bright Daily Brightening Lotion 400ML packshot

Vaseline® Daily Brightneing Lotion

VASELINE BODY LOTION 300.000 ML
		
		
		
			
                   
Vaseline Sun + Pollution Protection SPF 30 Body Lotion 400 ml packshot

Vaseline® Sun + Pollution Protection SPF 30 Body Lotion

VASELINE BODY LOTION 300.000 ML
		
		
		
			
                   
Vaseline Healthy Bright Complete10 Lotion 400ML packshot

Vaseline® Healthy Bright Complete10 Lotion

VASELINE BODY LOTION 300.000 ML
		
		
		
			
                   
  1. slide 1
  2. slide 2
  3. slide 3
  4. slide 4
Doctor applying Vaseline Healing Jelly on patient
Skin Health For All

Every body, Everywhere Deserves Healthy Skin

All over the world, treatable skin conditions go undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of access or knowledge, affecting the quality of life of millions. We want to change that.

Learn More Every body, Everywhere Deserves Healthy Skin
  • Explore

  • All Products
  • All Articles
  • Skin Health for All
  • Help

  • Get in Touch
  • FAQ
  • Legal

  • Site Map
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Notice
  • Privacy Notice

Subscribe for healthy skin. Stay up to date, get exclusive Vaseline® offers, inspiration and more.

Sign Up

Call Us

1 800 102 2221

Keep in Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
INDIA (EN)
Unilever logo

© {{dynamicYear}} Unilever. All rights reserved.