How to Care for Your Skin After a Sunburn: Fast Relief & Repair Guide

Sunburn isn’t just a temporary redness — it’s a sign of skin damage that can have lasting effects. Sunburns are painful and actually injure the skin, increasing the risk of skin cancer and premature aging over time. That’s why taking proper care of your skin post-sunburn is so important. By soothing the inflammation and helping your skin heal, you can reduce discomfort, prevent further damage, and support your skin’s barrier as it recovers. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps for immediate relief, calming irritation and redness, and rebuilding your skin barrier as fast as possible. You’ll learn what to do (and what not to do), including some easy home remedies (think cool baths and aloe vera) and how to incorporate targeted skincare products (like HydroPeptide’s Soothing Serum and Soothing Balm) into your routine for optimal recovery. Let’s get your sunburned skin on the mend.

Immediate Relief: Cool Down and Soothe the Burn

When you realize you’ve gotten a sunburn, the first step is to get out of the sun immediately. Further UV exposure will only worsen the burn, so seek shade or go indoors right away. Once you’re out of the sun, focus on quickly cooling and comforting your skin. Here are the essential steps for fast relief:

Cool the skin: Take a cool (not cold) bath or shower as soon as possible to lower the skin’s temperature and ease the pain. Avoid using soap on the burned areas during this initial rinse — just let the cool water calm the skin. If a bath isn’t available, apply a clean towel soaked in cool water as a compress on the burn. Cool water constricts blood vessels and can reduce swelling and stinging.
Be gentle when drying: After cooling, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel; do not rub or scrub the skin. It’s best to leave the skin a bit damp — this helps prep for the next step (moisturizing) and prevents further irritation.
Moisturize while skin is damp: While your skin is still slightly moist, apply a soothing moisturizer or gel to the sunburned areas. Choose a product that contains aloe vera, which is known to help relieve sunburn discomfort. Aloe vera gel can cool the skin and reduce redness. Apply liberally and frequently —whenever the skin feels dry or tight, reapply to keep the burn from drying out. This will reduce excessive peeling and help the skin heal better.
Try home remedies for extra relief: Simple DIY remedies can complement your after-sun moisturizer. For example, take a colloidal oatmeal bath to soothe widespread sunburn. (Oatmeal baths are known to calm inflammation and itch.) Just remember not to use any harsh ingredients that could aggravate your skin (for instance, avoid putting vinegar, butter, or raw oils on a sunburn, as these won’t help and could trap heat or introduce bacteria).
Never use ice or ice-cold water: It might be tempting to ice a burn, but don’t apply ice directly to sunburned skin. Extreme cold can further damage the skin. Stick to cool water instead of ice packs. Similarly, skip any products containing alcohol (like certain cooling sprays or astringents); alcohol will dry and irritate burnt skin.
Ease pain and inflammation from the inside: A sunburn causes an inflammatory reaction, so taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain reliever can help. Medications like ibuprofen or aspirin reduce swelling, redness, and pain — take one as soon as you notice the sunburn (with food, and as directed on the label). This can significantly cut down soreness and help you feel more comfortable. If you cannot take NSAIDs, acetaminophen can help with pain, though it won’t address inflammation.

Also, drink plenty of extra water over the next couple of days. Sunburn draws fluid to the skin’s surface and can leave you dehydrated, so replenishing fluids is key to your recovery. Aim to sip significantly more water than usual to help your body (and your skin) stay hydrated.

By promptly cooling, hydrating, and moisturizing your sunburn, you’ll get immediate relief and give your skin a head start on healing. You should start to feel the tightness and heat calm down within hours or overnight. Now that the acute pain is under control, it’s time to focus on deeper healing: soothing inflammation and repairing your skin’s barrier in the days following the burn.

Repair & Soothe: Calm the Redness and Inflammation

Even after the initial cool-down, your skin will likely remain red, warm, and sensitive for a few days. This phase is all about soothing inflammation and providing ingredients that help the skin repair itself. Here’s how to nurture your sunburned skin for faster recovery:

Keep it cool and moist: Continue to use cool, damp compresses on especially hot or swollen areas as needed. This can be especially helpful the first day or two after the burn. And don’t let the skin dry out — frequently apply your aloe-based gel or a light, hydrating lotion to keep the skin constantly moisturized. If the burn is causing a lot of discomfort, you can store your moisturizer in the fridge so each application gives a cooling sensation. Hydration is your friend right now, both externally and internally – so keep drinking plenty of water and hydrating fluids to support your skin from within.
Use a calming serum or treatment: This is where your usual skincare instincts can help — applying a soothing serum loaded with anti-inflammatory and reparative ingredients can speed up relief. For example, HydroPeptide Soothing Serum (Redness Repair & Relief) is a fantastic addition to your routine after the first few days of your burn. It’s formulated with calming peptides and a botanical stem cell extract to quell redness, instantly soothing irritation and comforting sensitive skin. Key ingredients like chamomile and arnica in the serum are natural anti-irritants that help calm redness and reactivity in the skin.

After gently cleansing your face, apply a few drops of Soothing Serum to the affected areas. A product like this not only reduces the visible redness but also helps nourish the skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate and support repair. The idea is to consistently deliver soothing ingredients to the skin to take down inflammation.

Avoid harsh actives, focus on gentle care: Your usual skincare routine might include potent “actives” like retinol, exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA), vitamin C serums, or acne treatments. Press pause on all of these while your skin heals. Sunburned skin is very sensitive and you want to keep it as calm as possible. Applying retinol or acids on a burn will worsen irritation and could even prolong healing. In fact, dermatologists advise not to use retinol on red, sunburned, or broken skin until it recovers.

During this repair stage, listen to your skin’s needs. If it drinks up moisturizer and still feels tight, apply more. If it’s very tender, avoid unnecessary touching or rubbing. Wear loose, breathable clothing that won’t chafe the burned areas. When preparing for bed, change your sheets to keep the materials that touch your affected area clean and free from bacteria.

By consistently cooling, hydrating, and treating your sunburned skin with gentle care, you’ll find that the redness starts to subside and the tightness and itch calm down. Now, as the sunburn begins to heal, your focus can shift to rebuilding the skin barrier and dealing with any peeling or dryness.

Rebuild the Barrier: Deep Hydration & Skin Recovery

A crucial part of post-sunburn care is helping your skin repair its protective barrier. Sunburn disrupts the outer skin layer, leading to moisture loss, compromised barrier function, and often, peeling or flaking after a few days. To aid recovery, you’ll want to saturate the skin with moisture and seal it in to facilitate healing. Here’s how to support your skin barrier as it heals:

Switch to richer moisturizers as needed: In the first day or two, lightweight gels and lotions are great for cooling relief. But as you progress, upgrade to a more emollient moisturizer or balm to deeply nourish the skin. Look for products with ingredients like ceramides (which patch up the skin’s lipid barrier), natural oils/butters (to soften and prevent water loss), and antioxidants (to combat free radical damage from the UV exposure).

For instance, once the initial heat has subsided, you can start using Soothing Balm on the sunburned areas. This is an occlusive recovery treatment balm specifically made to protect compromised skin while locking in moisture and accelerating repair. It’s loaded with nutrient-rich natural oils (like coconut, olive, and avocado) that nourish dry, cracked skin and reinforce the skin’s barrier. It also contains arnica, a botanical extract that reduces inflammation and helps soothe irritation or bruising. Applying an occlusive balm like this on top of your lighter moisturizer can really bolster your skin’s healing — it “seals” hydration into the skin and prevents further moisture loss while your damaged skin barrier is recovering.
Nourish and hydrate from the inside: Supporting your skin barrier isn’t only about what you put on your skin — it’s also about staying hydrated and well-nourished internally. Continue to drink a lot of water. You might also incorporate beverages with electrolytes (if you were out in the sun long, you could be low on electrolytes). Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (like avocados, nuts, or salmon) and antioxidants (fruits and veggies) can provide nutrients that help skin repair. It’s not a quick fix, but every bit helps your skin regenerate its healthy cells and barrier.
Be patient with peeling skin: It’s common for sunburned areas to start peeling or flaking a few days after the burn. This is the damaged skin sloughing off. Do not pick at or force the peeling skin off — let it come off naturally. You can gently exfoliate with a soft cloth after the skin is no longer tender (usually after several days, when it’s just dry flakes), but do not use any harsh scrubs. In the meantime, keep those areas very moisturized; applying the rich cream or balm will soften the flakes and lessen that dry, tight feeling.

If the peeling is itchy, a bit of hydrocortisone cream can help, or even taking an oral antihistamine at night if the itch is disturbing your sleep. Sunburns can cause histamine release, leading to itchiness as they heal. Most importantly, continue moisturizing even after the sunburn seems “healed.” The new skin revealed after peeling can be delicate, and continuing to use ceramide- and lipid-rich moisturizers will ensure your barrier returns to full strength.

Rebuilding your skin’s barrier is a gradual process — for a mild sunburn, barrier function should normalize within a week or so; deeper burns might take longer. Your job is simply to keep the skin well-moisturized and protected so it can do its natural repair work. You’ll know your barrier is on the mend when the skin no longer looks red or flaky and feels smooth and comfortable again.

What to Avoid While Healing

We’ve touched on a few “don’ts” throughout the guide, but it’s worth summarizing clearly. Some ingredients and habits can make a sunburn worse or hinder your healing. To give your skin the best environment to recover, avoid the following until you’re fully healed:

Harsh skincare actives: As mentioned, no retinols, retinoids, exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA), scrubs, or peels on sunburned skin. These will only irritate your compromised skin. Also avoid strong vitamin C serums or any products that sting upon application. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and stick to soothing products.
Fragrances and alcohol: Do not use perfumed lotions, colognes, or any alcohol-based toners/astringents on the burn. Fragrances can trigger inflammation, and alcohol will dry out and sting your sunburned skin. Choose “fragrance-free” and “alcohol-free” labels for all your post-sun products (this includes things like avoiding aftershave on a sunburned face, for example).
Heat and hot water: You might normally love hot showers or steam rooms, but keep everything cool or lukewarm while you heal. Hot water will increase blood flow to the skin and can intensify inflammation and discomfort. It also strips moisture. So take cool showers, and absolutely avoid hot tubs, saunas, or steamy baths with a sunburn. Even be mindful of heat sources like cooking over a hot stove or sitting close to a fireplace — too much heat exposure can aggravate the burn.
Tight or irritating clothing: Don’t wear rough, scratchy, or tight clothes over a sunburn. The friction can cause more irritation or even blistering. Opt for loose, soft fabrics (cotton is great) that won’t rub on your skin. For instance, if your shoulders are burned, choose a loose cotton t-shirt instead of a snug strappy top that might dig in.
Topical anesthetics (“-caine” products): You might see over-the-counter “sunburn relief sprays” or creams containing benzocaine or lidocaine (these are numbing agents). Dermatologists generally advise against these for sunburn. While they temporarily numb pain, they can cause allergic reactions in many people and further irritate sunburned skin. It’s safer to stick with cool compresses and oral pain relievers for pain. Only use a numbing spray if directed by a doctor (and discontinue at the first sign of any rash or irritation).
More sun exposure: This one may be obvious, but it must be emphasized: Keep the sunburned areas out of the sun until fully healed. Additional UV exposure will worsen the damage. If you must be outdoors, cover the burned skin with clothing, preferably with clothing that contains UV protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat if your face or neck is burned. Use a sun umbrella or seek shade whenever possible. Once the skin is no longer tender, you should apply sunscreen to any exposed areas, but note that sunscreen on an active sunburn can sting, so covering up with physical barriers (clothes, hats) is best initially.

In short, baby your skin after a sunburn. Treat it as you would a delicate, healing wound — because essentially, that's what it is. The gentler you are and the more you avoid irritants, the faster and better your skin will recover.

How Long Healing Takes and When to Seek Medical Help

Healing time for a sunburn depends on its severity:

Mild (first-degree) sunburns — those that are red but without blisters — usually heal within about a week with proper care. You may experience some peeling around days 4-7. Redness and soreness will fade over that time frame, especially if you keep the skin moisturized and protected.
Moderate sunburns — very red, painful burns that might have small blisters or cause a lot of discomfort — can take about 7 to 10 days to heal. Peeling tends to be more pronounced, and the area might remain a bit sensitive or tan for a while longer as new skin comes in.
Severe (second-degree) sunburns — characterized by multiple blisters, significant swelling, raw skin or covering a large percentage of your body — may take two weeks or more to fully heal. The worst peeling and crusting typically occur around the end of the first week. Such burns can leave the skin mottled or hyperpigmented for some time even after the acute healing, so continued gentle care is important.

During the healing process, continue the regimen of cooling, moisturizing, and avoiding sun until the skin is back to normal. Do not rush back into using strong actives (like retinol or exfoliants) until you’re confident the skin barrier is fully repaired and there’s no more redness or flaking.

Most sunburns can be managed at home with the measures we’ve discussed. However, you should seek medical attention if you experience:

Severe symptoms or signs of heat illness: Extremely high fever (over 102–103°F), chills, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, or faintness are not typical for a mild sunburn. These could indicate heat exhaustion or heatstroke or a more serious reaction to the burn. Get medical help if you feel very sick.
Signs of skin infection: If your burned skin develops increasing pain, swelling, pus, or red streaks emanating from the area, that can signal an infection in the skin. This sometimes happens if blisters become infected. A doctor may need to prescribe antibiotics or provide proper wound care.
Large or severe blisters: A few small blisters can be handled at home, but if you have widespread blistering (for example, an entire back covered in blisters) or very large blisters, you should see a healthcare provider. Severe second-degree burns might benefit from professional burn creams or dressings to promote healing and prevent infection. Blisters on the face and hands also warrant a doctor’s evaluation due to the risk of complications and scarring.
Delayed healing or worsening after a few days: If a sunburn isn’t improving at all after 2-3 days of home care, or if it’s getting more red and painful instead of better, check with a doctor. Occasionally, what seems like a sunburn can be a more serious second-degree burn needing additional treatment.
Any time you are unsure or in extreme pain: Trust your instincts. If the pain is so bad you can’t manage it with OTC meds, or you’re concerned about how your skin looks, it’s wise to get medical advice. Doctors can recommend stronger treatments to help you heal and be more comfortable.

Remember that while sunburns eventually heal, they do cause irreversible damage beneath the surface, especially blistering sunburns — research shows having five or more blistering sunburns in youth increases melanoma skin cancer risk by 80%. So a doctors' visit after a severe sunburn isn’t just for immediate care; it’s also a good opportunity to discuss your skin health. They might even do a skin check for any early signs of damage that need attention.

Gentle Care Now, Smarter Sun Habits Later

Caring for sunburned skin requires a mix of quick soothing actions, ongoing gentle TLC, and a lot of patience. By cooling the burn, calming the inflammation, and cocooning your skin in moisture, you can dramatically improve how your skin feels and how well it recovers. Our advice boils down to this: hydrate, protect, and be kind to your skin until it’s back to normal.

While your skin is healing, don’t forget to also care for yourself — sunburn can dehydrate and tire out your body, so rest if you need to, drink fluids, and maybe take it as an excuse for a cozy indoor day. In the meantime, plan for the future: Stock up on a good broad-spectrum sunscreen like one of HydroPeptide's Solar Defense products, so you can prevent having to deal with sunburns next time. The best cure is prevention. But if a sunburn does happen, you now know exactly how to give your skin the love it needs to recover quickly.

With the right care, your skin should be on the road to repair soon. Treat it gently, keep it cool and hydrated, and it will thank you by healing nicely. And once you’re healed, remember the lessons of this sunburn — wear that SPF, seek shade, and enjoy the sunshine responsibly so you can keep your skin happy and healthy.

Skin Clinic