After-Sun Tip #5: Stay Hydrated
In terms of treating your body from the inside out, it's a good idea to drink cold water and stay hydrated after a burn. "Since your body loses fluids when it's overheated, it's important to drink ice water to keep the body's temperature down and to internally hydrate," said Rouleau. Chances are, if you spent a lot of time in the sun you could use the extra hydration.
After-Sun Tip #6: Steer Clear of the Sun — or Cover Up
This may seem like a no-brainer but while your sunburn heals, you should stay out of the sun as much as possible. Due to the initial burn, your skin will be even more sensitive to the sun's harmful UV rays. "Steer clear of the sun or make sure you are lathering up in sunscreen," said Dr. Moy. "If you do plan to be outdoors again do your absolute best to cover up." Think: long sleeves, sun hats, staying under an umbrella.
After-Sun Tip #7: Don't Over Moisturise
While you want to keep your body hydrated and your skin moisturised, you don't want to overdo it. "Many people want to excessively apply lotion in an effort to moisturise and heal the skin, but applying too many heavy layers may create a barrier that traps heat in the skin," said Rouleau. "This may keep it red longer. While you do want to keep the skin moist to prevent it from getting brittle, it's best to use a lightweight lotion and reapply every four hours."
After-Sun Tip #8: Don't Pick or Peel the Skin
Rouleau explained that most moderate sunburns can take three to four days for the redness to go away. After the redness subsides, peeling can be the next natural step in the healing process — but don't pick. "The sunburn has already caused damage, so the worst thing you can do is start to peel off layers of skin — especially when it's not ready to come off," said Rouleau. "Doing this can scar the skin, so just let it shed naturally and be patient."
After a week of peeling naturally, you should be able to gently exfoliate off the remaining areas of shedding skin. "You can gently rub the skin on the body lightly with a loofah to help remove some surface flakiness," said Rouleau. "Be careful when you get out of the shower because the dry cells are very soft and will rub off easily. You could risk also pulling off live tissue, which could result in oozing scabs."
Ahead, we rounded up a few of the best products for soothing a sunburn.