Soothe

• Dr. Amy Pappert, assistant professor of dermatology at UMDNJ, states in the press release that one of the best ingredients to help soothe a painful sunburn is milk. Pour a glass of milk and let it sit out for about 15 minutes; the milk should be cool, not cold. Cold milk can shock the skin and make the sunburn more uncomfortable. Soak a soft cloth or cotton gauze with the cool milk, then pat it gently against the sunburned area. Because sunburn causes skin to be warm to the touch, the coolness of the milk will soothe the burning, while proteins in the milk will create a protective coating that will help reduce pain.
  
  Pappert also suggests filling a bathtub with lukewarm water, then adding a cup of white apple cider vinegar. According to the Northwestern Health Sciences University, people suffering from psoriasis and eczema have used apple cider vinegar to soothe itchy, dry skin. Apple cider vinegar not only alleviates discomfort, but it also acts as a topical disinfectant.
  
  The Stony Brook University Medical Center (SBUMC) suggests drinking plenty of water the first few days after getting a bad sunburn. The skin swells when it is sunburned, which causes the body to lose fluid. Drinking lots of water will keep you from feeling dizzy or dehydrated.
  
  

Moisturize

• Once your skin starts to peel after a sunburn, it is shedding the skin cells that were damaged by the ultraviolet radiation. It is important to keep the skin moisturized during this period, since skin will be very dry and feel tight. Use lotions that contain no dyes or fragrances, since this can sting when applied to tender, sunburned skin.
  
  Avoid thick, heavy ointments and petroleum jelly. Both will lock in the heat from the sunburn, causing more discomfort; and ointment and petrolatum need to be rubbed excessively to be removed, which can be painful on sunburn and cause more peeling. Instead, use a regular moisturizing lotion several times a day, and try not to pick the peeling skin off with your fingers.
  
  

Itch

• SBUMC suggests using nonprescription 1.0 percent hydrocortisone cream (not ointment) on dry, itching skin left over from sunburn. Another suggestion to relieve itch: a lukewarm bath with about two ounces of dissolved baking soda.