How to treat sunburn in 7 steps
- Cool It Down
- Get Clean
- Soothe
- Nourish
- Feed Your Skin
- Sunproof Your Wardrobe
- Seek Your Suncare Match
Step One: Cool It Down
As soon as someone murmurs, ‘Ooh, you’re looking a little pink’, spring into action and bring the temperature of your skin down fast. A refreshing plunge in the sea is best for sunburn (salty water has added skin-healing properties), but a swift dip in the pool, spa plunge pool or even an ice-cold shower works too. How can resist jumping in when your hotel pool looks like one of these luxury swimming holes?
Step Two: Get Clean
Don’t make the mistake of skipping soap because you’re worried it will irritate your skin. Residue from greasy sunscreen, salt or chlorine will only dry out your skin further, making the burn feel worse. So cleanse with a non-drying soap, showergel or cleanser.
Step Three: Soothe
Now that you have clean, dry (and slightly pink) skin, slather it in your choice of soothing salve. Aloe Vera is a favourite sunburn remedy; good old-fashioned Sudocrem also works wonders, and the zinc oxide has the added bonus of neutralising your skin tone so you don’t look like a lobster.
Step Four: Nourish
Sudocrem and aloe vera do a great job of soothing sunburn, but later on you’ll need to moisturise your parched skin. Any oil-rich and alcohol-free body moisturiser will do, but you really can’t beat coconut oil, such as Vita Coco. Slather it on last thing at night for a few days, after you catch too much sun, and it should save you from peeling.
Step Five: Feed Your Skin
Make sure you drink your eight glasses of water a day, which is essential for supple skin. Then get creative with skin-saving salads; certain fruits and vegetables are proven to boost your epidermal armour, helping your skin heal and protecting you from future burns. Almonds and sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin D, watermelon and tomatoes contain lycopene and sweet potatoes and carrots contain beta-carotene, all of which protect your skin from sun damage.
Step Six: Sunproof Your Wardrobe
Now learn from your mistakes! Stock up on light summer wardrobe staples that mean you won’t get caught out again. Lululemon’s range of peaked caps and visors are super-stylish and help keep your face in the shade. A short kimono is also a great item to keep stashed in your bag and pop on when you realise your shoulders have been in the sun too long.
Step Seven: Seek Your Suncare Match
Today’s suncare products have come a long way from the sticky white gunk your mum covered you in as a child, so there’s no excuse for not having suncare products you love. Hate that oil-slick look on your face? Invest in a brilliant high SPF face powder such as Colorescience Sunforgettable (€52) or Jane Iredale Powder Me (€49).
Hate having to reapply? Try Riemann P20 Once A Day (€20) which protects for up to ten hours. Shop around; you’ll find your dream holiday companion.
This article was written for Skyscanner by travel editor Anna Hart
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